*%- 

-%  +•'     * 


FIFTY-THREE  POUNDS  OF  DATES 
From  a  photograph  taken  by  Jean  Geiser  at  Colomb-Bechar,  Department  of  Oran,  Algeria. 


DATE   GROWING 

IN  THE  OLD  WORLD  AND  THE  NEW 


BY 


PAUL  B.  POPENOE 


WITH  A  CHAPTER  ON  THE  FOOD  VALUE  OF  THE  DATE 

BY  CHARLES  L.  BENNETT,  M.  D. 


ALTADENA,  CAL. 

WEST  INDIA  GARDENS 

1913 


Copyright  1913 
By  Paul  B.  Popenoe 


Press  of 

GEORGE  RICE  &  SONS 
I.ns  Aneeles 


CONTENTS 


PART  I 

Preface    13 

I.    THE  DATE  PAIJVI 21 

II.     THE  DATE  PALM  COUNTRY 27 

III.  COMMERCIAL  DATE  GROWING 43 

IV.  PROPAGATION  BY  OFFSHOOTS 59 

V.     PROPAGATION  BY  SEED  77 

VI.     CULTURE  OF  THE  PALM 89 

VII.     POLLINATION 101 

VIII.     MALE  PALMS 119 

IX.     HANDLING  THE  CROP 1 27 

X.     ARTIFICIAL  RIPENING 135 

XI.     DISEASES  AND  PESTS 149 

XII.     THE  CLASSIFICATION  OF  DATES 161 

XIII.  PROFITS  OF  DATE  GROWING 173 

XIV.  ARAB  USES  OF  THE  DATE 187 

XV.     FOOD  VALUE  OF  THE  DATE 203 

PART  II 

VARIETIES  (Alphabetically  Arranged) 211 

APPENDIX 

QUARANTINE  REGULATIONS 301 

To  GROW  BANANAS  FROM  DATE  SEEDS 303 

"THE  SWEAT"  TALISMAN 305 

INDEX  .                                                                                             .  307 


268493 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


FIFTY-THREE  POUNDS  OF  DATES Frontispiece 

EGYPTIAN  DATES  IN  ARIZONA 33 

AFTER  A  HARD  FREEZE 37 

SETTING  OUT  OFFSHOOTS 41 

SEEDLINGS  IN  CALIFORNIA 45 

PAINTING  OFFSHOOT  BASES 49 

BAGHDAD  DATE  GROWER 57 

WRAPPING  OFFSHOOTS  FOR  SHIPMENT 65 

TRIMMING  OFFSHOOT  BASES 73 

LOADING  OFFSHOOTS  ON  TIGRIS  RIVER 81 

NURSERY  OF  13,000  OFFSHOOTS 89 

PROTECTION  FOR  OFFSHOOTS 97 

OFFSHOOTS  READY  FOR  SHIPMENT 105 

BUYING  OFFSHOOTS  IN  THE  SAHARA 113 

NOMADS  ENCAMPED  BY  A  CLUMP  OF  PALMS 1 21 

EIGHT- YEAR-OLD  DEGLET  NUR 129 

FLOWERS  OF  THE  PALM 137 

PROTECTION  FROM  INSECTS 145 

DISINFECTING  OFFSHOOTS 153 

To  INSURE  A  GOOD  CROP 1 61 

RAVAGES  OF  PALM  BORER 1 69 

CURING  DATES  ON  HOUSETOP.  .  .177 


DATES  FOR  NATIVE  TRADE 185 

PACKING  SHED  AT  BUSREH,  ARABIA 193 

PACKING  DATES  IN  THE  SAHARA 201 

PACKING  DATES  AT  BUSREH,  ARABIA 209 

ARAB  PACKING  "DE  LUXE" 217 

EXPORT  DATES  AT  BUSREH,  ARABIA 225 

DATE  PACKERS  AT  BUSREH,  ARABIA 233 

HARVESTING  DATES 241 

How  THEY  PACK  DATES  AT  BUSREH,  ARABIA 249 

HOME  OF  THE  FARDH  DATE 257 

HALAWI  PALMS  AT  BUSREH,  ARABIA 265 

AN  OASIS  IN  THE  SAHARA  DESERT 273 

KILLED  TO  MAKE  PALM  WINE 281 

BIRKET  AL  HAJJI  PALM 289 

FIFTY  POUND  BUNCH  OF  DEGLET  NURS 293 

FARDH  PALMS  IN  SAMAIL  VALLEY,  ARABIA 297 

KHALASEH  DATES  FROM  HASA,  OMAN 301 

MAJHUL  DATES  OF  TAFILALET,  MOROCCO  .  .  305 


PART  I 


PREFACE 

Although  dates  have  been  the  object  of  culture 
for  several  thousand  years,  it  is  still  too  early  to 
write  a  complete  account  of  the  industry.  At  no 
time  in  history  has  their  cultivation  been  undergoing 
more  change  than  at  present.  A  year  gives  us  an 
entirely  new  aspect  of  a  problem;  a  month,  even, 
may  cause  us  to  revise  our  views  respecting  some 
part  of  it. 

Accordingly,  I  am  aware  that  this  book  can  not 
be  considered  final.  It  aims  only  to  present  a  practi- 
cal exposition  of  the  methods  of  growing  the  date, 
as  they  are  understood  in  the  Old  World  and  in 
the  United  States  today;  in  six  months  more  some 
phase  of  the  work  might  need  to  be  presented 
in  an  entirely  different  way. 

Nevertheless,  it  is  hoped  that  the  volume  may  be 
of  service  to  the  men  who  are  actually  engaged  in 
building  up  an  industry  that  is  certain  to  be  one 
of  the  largest  fruit  enterprises  in  California  and 
Arizona.  There  is  nothing  else  in  print  that  covers 
the  ground.  The  material  for  the  present  volume 
has  been  gathered  during  two  years  of  travel  in  the 
most  famous  date-growing  regions  of  the  Orient,  on 
behalf  of  the  West  India  Gardens  of  Altadena,  Cali- 
fornia. In  addition  to  my  own  study  of  cultural 
methods  in  the  United  States,  I  have  had  the  advan- 
tage of  assistance  from  all  the  men  best  qualified  to 
help  me,  and  I  am  glad  to  have  this  opportunity 
of  publicly  thanking  them.  References  throughout 
the  book  indicate  the  extent  of  my  indebtedness.  It 


xiv  PREFACE 

is  a  particular  pleasure  to  acknowledge  my  obligations 
to  Walter  T.  Swingle  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry, 
who  has  had  general  charge  of  experimental  date 
work  in  the  United  States;  to  Thomas  H.  Kearney, 
whose  study  of  Tunisian  dates  is  the  best  work  of 
the  kind  that  we  have;  to  David  Fairchild  of  the 
same  Bureau,  to  whom  is  due  credit  for  the  intro- 
duction of  several  hundred  old  world  varieties  of 
dates  into  the  United  States;  to  Silas  C.  Mason  and 
Bruce  Drummond,  both  engaged  in  date  research 
work  for  the  Bureau;  to  Dr.  A.  E.  Vinson  and  other 
members  of  the  staff  of  the  University  of  Arizona; 
to  Dr.  L.  Trabut,  botanist  to  the  government  of 
Algeria;  and  to  my  brother,  F.  W.  Popenoe,  now 
of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  who  accompanied 
me  during  much  of  my  travel  and  gave  me  invalu- 
able help  in  many  ways. 

I  have  found  American  consuls  in  all  parts  of  the 
world  anxious  to  be  of  assistance,  but  none  has 
exerted  himself  so  much  on  my  behalf  as  Homer 
Brett,  United  States  consul  at  Masqat,  Oman.  Being 
informed  of  the  date  of  my  coming,  he  secured  from 
the  Sultan  of  Oman  a  dozen  of  his  own  camels,  had 
the  caravan  ready  for  immediate  start  upon  my 
arrival,  and  shared  with  me  the  hardship,  danger, 
and  interest  of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-five-mile 
ride  to  Samail  Valley,  which  had  never  before  been 
seen  by  a  student  of  the  date  industry,  although  it  is 
the  home  of  one  of  the  most  important  commercial 
varieties,  the  Fardh.  Our  trip  ended  rather  sensation- 
ally, involving  the  kingdom  in  a  year  of  civil  war,  but 
it  also  resulted  in  the  introduction  to  California  of 
a  number  of  varieties  earlier  in  ripening  than  any- 
thing which  had  theretofore  been  known. 


PREFACE  xv 

From  American  missionaries  I  have  invariably 
met  with  a  hospitality  which  can  never  be  repaid. 
The  traveler  in  unbeaten  paths  realizes  better  than 
any  one  else  the  extent  to  which  the  missionary  is 
not  only  the  carrier  of  religion,  but  of  civilization, 
and  while  he  admires  the  way  in  which  they  are 
uplifting  the  native,  he  experiences  also  a  purely  per- 
sonal feeling  of  gratitude  when  he  is  permitted  to  rest 
in  one  of  these  oases  of  Occidental  culture  after 
a  more  or  less  prolonged  experience  of  life  that  is 
based  on  so  much  lower  ideals.  Without  the  co- 
operation of  missionaries,  and  in  particular  of  those 
at  Busreh,  Turkey,  who  represent  the  Reformed 
Church  in  America,  my  work  would  not  only  have 
been  far  less  pleasant — it  would  have  been  impossible. 

A  few  remarks  upon  the  problems  of  orthography 
in  regard  to  the  names  of  date  varieties  will  be  in 
place  in  this  introduction.  In  order  to  make  Ameri- 
can practice  conform  to  that  of  the  rest  of  the 
scientific  world,  I  have  transliterated  all  Arabic  date 
names  on  a  uniform  system,  which  is  based  on  the 
principle  in  use  for  a  century  or  more,  that  consonants 
should  be  pronounced  as  in  English  but  vowels  as 
in  Spanish  or  other  continental  languages.  This  is 
the  simplest  and  most  natural  method  of  dealing 
with  a  hard  problem,  and  it  is  particularly  simple 
for  residents  of  the  southwestern  United  States,  be- 
cause they  are  already  familiar  with  the  pronunciation 
of  Spanish  words.  The  system  was  elaborated  by  the 
International  Congress  of  Orientalists  at  Geneva, 
in  1894,  and  recommended  for  general  adoption;  it 
has  been  adopted  with  occasional  insignificant  changes 
by  the  British,  Indian  and  Egyptian  governments, 
the  geographical  bureau  of  the  United  States  govern- 


xvi  PREFACE 

ment,  and  by  many  other  foreign  governments,  as  well 
as  learned  societies,  institutions,  and  individuals,  so 
that  it  may  fairly  be  said  to  represent  the  universal 
practice  of  enlightened  people.  It  seems  a  pity  that 
the  date  growers  of  the  United  States  should  be  the 
only  ones  to  lag  behind  the  march  of  progress;  and 
I  have,  therefore,  not  hesitated  to  make  changes  in 
accepted  spellings,  when  necessary  to  make  them 
conform  to  standard,  excepting  in  a  few  cases  like 
the  word  Deglet,  which  may  fairly  be  considered  a 
trade  name  now,  and  the  correct  form  of  which, 
Daqlet,  would  hardly  be  recognized. 

There  is  the  less  excuse  for  the  confusion  into  which 
date  nomenclature  has  fallen  because  most  of  it  was 
caused  by  the  erroneous  supposition  that  what  was  a 
correct  spelling  for  the  French  language  was  a  correct 
spelling  for  the  English.  A  date  was  therefore  intro- 
duced under  the  name  of  Rhars,  when  all  English 
practice  demanded  that  it  be  called  Ghars — a  spelling 
that  is  also  in  more  accord  with  the  pronunciation  of 
natives  in  the  district  where  it  grows.  As  the  French 
government  itself  has  now  adopted  the  spelling 
Ghars,  there  is  little  excuse  for  asking  Americans  to 
retain  a  French  mistake  which  the  French  themselves 
repudiate,  and  I  have  accordingly  adopted  the 
spelling  Ghars  throughout. 

Even  more  conspicuously  unnecessary  is  such  a 
spelling  as  Hadji,  for  a  word  which  is  correctly  trans- 
literated by  everyone  Hajji.  The  Frenchman,  with 
his  peculiar  pronunciation  of  the  letter  j,  may  have 
needed  the  spelling  Hadji,  but  surely  the  American 
did  not;  yet  he  was  asked  to  accept  it,  as  he  was 
asked  at  another  period  to  accept  the  vulgar  pronun- 
ciation of  the  Egyptian  peasant — Haggi.  If  pro- 


PREFACE  xvii 

nunciation  is  to  be  based  on  any  principle  at  all,  it 
should  be  based  upon  the  practice  of  the  best  educated 
people,  not  the  worst.  There  is  only  one  correct  way 
of  spelling  the  word  in  English,  and  that  is  Hajji; 
it  is  the  simple  and  natural  way;  what  justification 
can  be  given  for  an  attempt  to  confuse  the  reader  by 
any  other  spelling? 

In  accordance  with  the  principle  that  vowels 
should  be  pronounced  as  in  the  continental  languages, 
the  reader  will  find  Thuri,  instead  of  the  more  familiar 
but  more  misleading  Thoory;  and  so  on  through  the 
list.  Certainly  the  English  pronunciation  of  vowels  is 
not  so  simple  and  rational  that  we  should  desire  to 
perpetuate  it  in  words  from  an  oriental  language. 

The  appearance  of  the  letter  q  unaccompanied  by 
the  vowel  u,  which  always  attends  it  in  English,  may 
at  first  cause  a  little  surprise,  but  there  is  no  valid 
argument  against  it.  I  use  it  to  transliterate  the 
Arabic  letter  Qaf,  which  is  properly  pronounced  like 
a  gutteral  ck  in  stick,  but  colloquially  is  often  pro- 
nounced like  g,  whence  we  have  Deglet  for  the  more 
correct  Daqlet. 

Most  of  the  changes  which  I  have  made  in  date 
nomenclature  have  been  due  to  the  necessity  of 
purging  the  list  from  incorrect  French  influence  and 
bringing  it  into  line  with  the  usage  of  the  whole 
modern  scientific  world,  including  the  French;  at 
other  times  I  have  substituted  the  classical  form, 
which  would  be  used  by  all  educated  men,  for  some 
vulgar  dialectal  form,  as  Kasbeh  for  Kseba.  Arab 
names  are  not  easy  for  the  layman — often  they 
bother  even  the  expert;  but  I  believe  that  they  will 
offer  fewer  problems  now  that  they  are  made  system- 
atic, and  if  the  reader  is  still  unable  to  twist  his 


xviii  PREFACE 

• 

tongue  around  them  he  may  derive  consolation  from 
the  fact  that  many  other  good  men  have  had  the 
same  difficulty.  Two  thousand  years  ago  the  omni- 
scient Pliny  explained  in  his  great  Natural  History 
that  he  could  give  a  list  of  forty-nine  varieties  of 
dates — if  he  could  only  remember  their  barbarous 
names.  As  he  could  not,  his  list  was  cut  down  to  a 
dozen,  and  even  these  he  designated  by  Greek  or 
Latin  names.  Eventually  we  may  find  it  desir- 
able to  adopt  a  similar  expedient  and  use  the  English 
equivalents  for  Arabic  words.  For  this  reason,  and 
because  of  their  general  interest,  I  have,  when  possible, 
added  the  translation  of  each  variety  name. 


PAUL  B.  POPENOE. 


ALT  AD  EN  A,  CALIFORNIA 
September  1,  1913. 


THE  DATE  PALM 


r\ 


CHAPTER   I 
THE    DATE    PALM 

The  date  palm  is  something  more  than  a  fruit 
tree  which  furnishes  the  principal  means  of  existence 
to  hundreds  of  thousands  of  people.  To  the  Arab  it  is 
a  sacred  institution  identified  with  the  Semitic  race 
since  the  dawn  of  history  and  consecrated  by 
Muhammad  both  in  his  public  and  his  private  life. 

"There  is,"  said  the  prophet,  "among  the  trees 
one  tree  which  is  blessed,  as  is  the  Muslim  (among 
men):  it  is  the  palm;"*  and  he  explained  on  another 
occasion  the  reason  for  this  pre-eminence,  as  follows: 

"Honor  your  uncle,  the  palm:  I  call  him  your 
uncle  because  he  was  created  from  the  earth  left  over 
after  the  creation  of  Adam  (on  whom  be  peace  and  the 
blessings  of  God!).  The  palm  resembles  man  by  its 
erect  position  and  its  height,  by  its  separation  in  two 
sexes,  and  by  its  necessity  for  the  pollination  of  the 
female.  If  its  head  is  cut  off  it  dies;  if  its  heart  is 
exposed  to  too  great  a  strain,  it  perishes.  Is  it  not  the 
same  with  man?  If  its  leaves  are  cut  off  it  can  not 
grow  others  in  the  same  place;  no  more  can  man  if 
he  loses  his  members.  It  is  covered  with  a  fibre, 
analogous  to  the  hair  of  man."f 

The  tradition  continues  that  Adam  cut  his  hair 
and  nails  with  an  instrument  miraculously  provided, 
and  buried  the  cuttings  in  the  ground  of  Eden. 
Immediately  there  sprang  from  the  spot  a  palm  tree, 
fully  grown  and  covered  with  ripe  dates.  Adam  fell 

*  Al  Bukharf,  Ch.  42,  on  authority  of  Abdallah  b.  'Umar. 
fKamal  al  Din  of  Cairo  in  "The  Life  of  Animals  and  Plants." 
The  tradition  is  given  in  slightly  different  fortrs  by  many  writer?. 


22  DATE    GROWING 

on  his  face  in  adoration,  and  the  angel  Gabriel,  appear- 
ing, designated  the  palm  as  his  future  food,  saying: 
"You  were  created  of  the  same  material  as  this  tree 
which  shall  nourish  you." 

Satan,  of  course,  was  not  long  in  appearing  on  the 
scene,  and  asked  Adam  why  he  was  thus  prostrated  in 
an  attitude  of  worship  before  a  tree.  When  he  learned 
of  the  circumstances  of  its  creation,  and  realized  what 
a  proof  it  was  of  the  beneficence  of  God,  he  wept 
bitterly;  his  tears  falling  on  the  roots  of  the  palm 
caused  it  suddenly  to  put  forth  the  spines  which  still 
make  its  leaves  formidable. 

The  earliest  known  records  of  Egypt  and  Assyria 
show  that  the  palm  held  almost  as  important  a  place 
then  as  it  does  today.*  In  the  Bible  it  appears  only 
as  an  ornamental,  the  climate  of  Palestine  not  being 
well  adapted  to  ripen  the  fruit;  but  it  was  one  of  the 
chief  motifs  in  the  decoration  of  Solomon's  temple, 
and  according  to  Arab  historians  it  was  that  mighty 
potentate  who  impressed  on  the  back  of  the  seed  the 
small  circle  (the  germ  pore),  by  the  imprint  of  his 
famous  ring,  of  mingled  iron  and  brass,  inscribed  with 
the  secret  name  of  God,  by  virtue  of  which  he  possessed 
control  of  all  animal  life  and  the  spirit  world. 

Still  later  the  palm  served  as  a  shelter  to  Mary 
when  she  gave  birth  to  Jesus  C  hrist ,  and  it  was  by  the 
sweet,  ripe  dates  that  the  pains  of  her  travail  were 
allayed.  Muhammad  tells  the  story  as  follows:! 

*Cf.  Moldenke.    Uber  die  altagyptische  Baume,  p.  31. 

tKoran,  XIX,  23-26.  Critics  have  not  failed  to  point  out  that 
this  account  strongly  resembles  that  related  by  poets  of  the  birth  of 
Apollo,  whose  mother,  Latona,  is  also  said  to  have  been  delivered 
under  a  palm,  in  the  Isle  of  Delos;  and  in  this  case  also,  the  infant 
spoke  to  her.  Pliny  and  Cicero  say  the  palm  in  question  was  in 
e  yjst  ence  in  their  time. 


THEDATEPALM  23 

"The  pains  of  childbirth  came  upon  her  near  the 
trunk  of  a  palm  tree.  She  said:  'Would  to  God  I  had 
died  before  this,  and  become  a  thing  forgotten,  and 
lost  in  oblivion!'  And  he  who  was  beneath  her  called 
to  her,  saying:  'Be  not  grieved;  now  hath  God 
provided  a  rivulet  under  thee,  and  do  thou  shake  the 
body  of  the  palm  tree,  and  it  shall  let  fall  ripe  dates 
upon  thee,  ready  gathered.  And  eat,  drink  and  calm 
thy  mind.'  ' 

The  commentators,*  intent  on  making  the  most 
of  this  Muslim  miracle,  assert  that  the  palm  was 
merely  a  withered  trunk,  without  any  crown  of 
leaves,  and  that  this  happened  in  the  winter  season, 
when  dates  could  not  ripen  naturally.  An  early 
tradition  puts  the  birth  in  Egypt,  near  the  town  of 
Ahnas;  Sa'ab  al  Akhbar  declares  he  saw  the  identical 
palm  there,  and  Makrizi  bears  witness  to  the  same 
effect,  but  Ibn  Batutah,  one  of  the  greatest  and  most 
accurate  of  Arab  travelers,  saysf  he  saw  "traces"  of 
it  in  the  church  at  Bayt  Lahm  (Bethlehem).  On  the 
basis  of  this  story,  Muhammad  advised  all  mothers 
to  nourish  themselves  with  dates,  in  order  that  they 
might  have  good  and  abundant  milk. 

But  the  final  stamp  of  perfection  was  put  on  the 
date  by  the  prophet's  own  use  of  it.  During  his  years 
of  poverty  at  Madina,  his  food  for  days  at  a  time  con- 
sisted of  nothing  but  dates,  washed  down  with  water — 
a  diet  which  is  still  forced  upon  thousands  of  nomads 
each  year.t  When  his  circumstances  became  easier, 
he  developed  into  a  real  gourmand,  and  among  his 

*  e.g.,  Al  Baydawi,  Yahya,  Al  Zamakh. 
fTravels,  I,  p.  120,  Paris,  1853. 

JTold  by  his  wife  Ayfsheh  and  set  down  by  the  secretary  of  Al 
Waqfdl. 


*4  DATE    GROWING 

favorite  dishes  were  fresh  dates  and  cucumbers,  and 
dates  with  milk  or  butter.*  He  drank  regularly  an 
unfermented  liquor,  made  by  pouring  water  on  fresh 
dates  and  letting  it  stand  over  night;  therefore  this 
drink,  called  nabidh,  is  still  a  favorite  at  Madina 
and  elsewhere.  Finally,  he  declared  to  his  followers: 
"Whoever  eats  seven  dates  of  the  variety  called 
Ajweh  first  thing  in  the  morning  will  not  have  to 
fear  either  poison  or  treachery  that  day."t 

With  such  a  history  to  supplement  its  physical 
value,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  palm  is  held  in 
veneration  by  Arabs. 

*Father  Jaussen  (Coutumes  des  Arabes  au  Pays  de  Moab,  Paris, 
1908)  met  various  individuals  who  told  him  they  tasted  nothing  but 
dates  and  milk  for  six  months  at  a  time.  His  testimony  can  be 
confirmed  by  that  of  almost  every  traveler. 

fAl  Bukhari,  Traditions,  Sec.  LXX,  ch.  43,  on  authority  of 
Salad  b.  Abu  Waqqas.  Burckhordt  (Travels  in  Arabia,  II,  p.  211  f.) 
followed  by  Burton  (Pilgrimage,  II,  p.  401)  errs  in  saying  the  variety 
thus  recommended  by  Muhammad  was  Al  Birni.  Bukhari,  who 
wrote  in  the  third  century  after  Muhammad,  is  the  highest  authority 
on  the  Traditions. 


THE  DATE  PALM  COUNTRY 


CHAPTER  II 
THE  DATE  PALM  COUNTRY 

Conditions  generally  favorable  to  the  production 
of  dates  are  well  understood.  It  is  not  a  tropical 
but  a  sub-tropical  culture.  No  summer  heat  is  too 
great  for  it,  but  it  will  also  tolerate  severe  frost  in 
winter;  it  is  easily  satisfied  as  regards  soil,  if  the  water 
supply  is  sufficient.  These  are  the  conditions  under 
which  its  culture  has  been  carried  on  in  the  past,  and 
they  still  hold  good ;  but  recent  developments  indicate 
that  dates  may  be  successfully  grown  in  regions  which 
have  hitherto  been  considered  entirely  unsuited  to  the 
palm;  therefore  the  subject  demands  a  somewhat 
careful  study. 

In  the  United  States,  Southern  California  is 
indisputably  the  region  best  adapted  to  commercial 
date  culture.  Coachella  Valley,  with  its  slight  rainfall, 
intense  summer  heat,  and  prevailingly  sandy  soil 
exactly  fulfills  the  conventional  requirements,  as  they 
were  outlined  in  the  preceding  paragraph.  For  late 
varieties,  which  require  a  high  sum  total  of  heat  to 
mature,  and  for  the  Saharan  varieties  in  general,  it 
can  not  be  surpassed.  It  would  probably  prove 
equally  well  suited  to  varieties  from  the  interior  of 
Arabia,  if  we  could  secure  any  such.  Imperial  Valley 
is  almost  as  well  adapted  to  these  same  varieties, 
although  its  soil  is  predominantly  clay,  and  often  a 
very  stiff  clay.  But  in  the  Sahara,  Deglet  Nurs 
which  grow  in  the  heavy  clay  of  the  Ziban  are  scarcely 
inferior  to  those  which  grow  in  the  light  sand  of  the 
Suf .  The  lower  part  of  the  Colorado  River  Valley 


28  DATE    GROWING 

may  be  classed  with  these  two,  physical  conditions 
being  much  the  same. 

In  Arizona,  where  date  culture  in  a  scientific 
way  was  carried  on  earlier  than  in  California,*  condi- 
tions are  quite  different,  particularly  in  the  Salt  River 
Valley,  where  a  large  part  of  the  rainfall  comes  in 
midsummer,  at  a  time  which  proves  fatal  to  success 
with  many  African  dates.  Profitable  date  growing  is 
entirely  possible  here,  as  also  in  the  Gila  and  Casa 
Grande  Valleys  and  probably  several  parts  of  the 
mesa  in  Arizona;  but  not  with  all  the  varieties  which 
succeed  in  the  adjoining  state.  Dates  must  be  chosen 
which  do  not  ripen  too  late,  and  which  are  unaffected 
by  summer  humidity.  This  eliminates  most  North 
African  dates  and  leaves  Egyptian  and  Persian  Gulf 
varieties  as  most  desirable. 

Within  these  two  states,  California  and  Arizona, 
are  the  only  regions  where  it  can  be  said,  at  present, 
with  confidence  and  on  the  basis  of  real  evidence,  that 
date  culture  is  profitable  in  the  United  States.  There 
are  some  other  regions  where  it  is  possible,  and  where  it 
may  be  and  probably  will  be  proved  to  be  profitable, 
but  where  data  have  not  yet  been  accumulated  which 
enable  one  to  speak  with  certainty. 

In  this  class  may  be  put  a  large  part  of  the 
interior  valley  of  California,  the  northern  half  of 
which  is  named  Sacramento  and  the  southern  San 
Joaquin.  Around  its  outlet  to  San  Francisco  Bay  there 
is  a  region  where  the  climate  is  probably  ill  suited  to 
the  date,  but  farther  north  and  south  it  should  be 
well  adapted  to  hardy,  early  ripening  sorts.  Scattered 
experiments  in  the  past  have  shown  that  good  dates 

*For  its  history  see  Toumey,  J.  W.,     The  Date  Palm.     Ariz. 
Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bui.  No.  29,  Tucson,  June,  1898 


THE  DATE  PALM  COUNTRY  29 

can  be  grown  there,  but  at  present  commercial 
planting  is  checked  because  of  quarantine  restrictions 
on  imported  date  palms,  and  these  restrictions  are 
likely  to  prevent  development  in  any  rapid  manner. 
In  the  meantime  one  could  make  a  start  by  selecting 
some  very  early  seedling  in  Southern  California  and 
establishing  its  offshoots  in  a  warm  part  of  the  interior 
valley.  When  imported  offshoots  can  be  introduced 
into  the  central  counties,  early  sorts  from  the  Persian 
Gulf  would  give  every  promise  of  success.  There 
seems  no  reason  why  this  section  of  California  should 
not  become  eventually  a  large  producer  of  dates. 

Finally,  there  is  a  small  district  in  Texas,  around 
Laredo,  where  encouraging  experiments  have  been 
made  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  of  the  federal 
government.  This  is  evidently  a  region  adapted  to 
producing  dates,  and  it  completes  the  list  of  best 
United  States  locations  for  date  growers.  Most  of 
the  land  in  the  southwest,  which  is  amply  hot  and 
dry  in  summer,  is  too  cold  in  winter. 

In  Mexico  there  is  undoubtedly  a  large  amount  of 
land  which  is  well  adapted  to  the  culture,  just  across 
the  line  from  the  California  border.  Conditions  here 
are  much  the  same  as  in  Imperial  and  Coachella 
Valleys  to  the  north.  The  date  palm  is  a  well  estab- 
lished industry  around  the  Gulf  of  California,  where 
conditions  are  not  desert-like,  particularly  because  of 
the  ocean  breezes  and  consequent  humidity.  Dates 
do  not  ripen  well,  but  it  is  entirely  possible  that 
suitable  varieties  could  be  found  which  would  make 
the  culture  a  paying  one  there.  Probably  some  parts 
of  the  plateau  in  Mexico  also  are  adapted  to  the 
industry. 

The  idea,  however,  that  the  palm  could  fruit 


SO  DATE    GROWING 

• 

only  in  an  arid  region  has  been  set  aside  by  further 
investigation  and  experiment.  I  found  the  date  grow- 
ing side  by  side  with  the  banana,  coconut,  and  tropical 
pawpaw  (Carica  papaya)  in  Oman,  on  the  eastern 
coast  of  Arabia;  and  these  three  plants  all  require  a 
humid  climate.  In  Tunisia  excellent  bananas  are 
raised  in  the  shade  of  the  palms.  But  most  conclusive 
on  this  point  are  some  of  the  tests  made  in  British 
possessions. 

In  India,  for  instance,  there  has  been  during  the 
last  half  century  a  small  but  continuous  effort  to 
establish  the  date  palm  on  a  large  scale.  It  has  been 
growing  there  for  centuries — introduced,  according 
to  legend,  by  the  troops  of  Alexander  the  Great — 
and  in  desert  regions  of  the  Pan  jab  and  Sindh  excel- 
lent fruit  can  be  produced.  Not  content  with  this, 
the  investigators  tried  to  establish  it  in  all  the  warm 
parts  of  the  peninsula,  and  although  their  efforts 
have  hitherto  failed  in  most  cases,  from  a  com- 
mercial point  of  view,  they  have  given  some  surprising 
indications  as  to  the  way  in  which  the  palm  can  adapt 
itself  to  varying  weather  conditions.  The  great 
drawback  to  their  work  was  the  arrival,  in  June,  of 
the  monsoon  rains,  which  come  with  great  force  at 
the  very  time  when  the  earliest  dates  are  ripening,  and 
last  until  November.  At  first  sight  it  would  appear 
that  this  made  the  growing  of  dates  absolutely  impos- 
sible, yet  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  even  this 
obstacle  may  be  eventually  overcome.  At  Saharan- 
pur  in  the  United  Provinces,  where  there  is  a  five 
acre  experimental  garden,  several  varieties  of  very 
fair  dates  have  been  found  which  have  been  able  to 
mature  their  fruit  before  the  rains  set  in — and  this 
in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  winters  there  are  by  no 


THE  DATE  PALM   COUNTRY  31 

means  frostless.  Evidently,  propagation  of  these  few 
varieties  will  eventually  establish  an  industry  which 
can  furnish  dates  for  home  use,  at  least. 

Saharanpur  is  in  Northern  India,  but  the  region 
is  not  typically  desert,  even  without  the  summer 
rains.  At  Trichinopoli  in  Southern  India,  in  a 
genuinely  tropical  district,  success  has  also  been 
obtained  in  an  experimental  way,  principally  with 
seedlings;  the  superintendent  reports*  that  three 
varieties  of  good  dates  ripened  in  1908.  And  at 
Bangalore,  Lucknow,  and  many  other  places  in  India 
resultshave  been  obtained  which,  while  far  from  making 
commercial  production  of  dates  an  immediate  possi- 
bility, show  that  the  field  is  by  no  means  hopeless, 
that  success  depends  only  on  finding  suitable  varieties, 
and  that  such  varieties  can  be  found. 

In  the  tropical  island  of  Zanzibar,  too,  experi- 
ments have  been  successful  enough  to  warrant  the 
government  in  importing  large  quantities  of  offshoots 
from  Oman  and  Busreh.  And,  closer  home,  dates 
have  been  ripened  in  the  West  Indies,  where  seedling 
Tafilalets  have  proved  particularly  interesting.! 

As  regards  extreme  of  cold,  the  date  palm  has 
shown  itself  remarkably  resistant.  In  central  Balu- 
chistan and  the  highlands  of  Persia  the  culture  is 
profitable  even  where  the  cold  is  prolonged  as  well  as 
severe;  in  other  regions,  where  more  detailed  observa- 
tions have  been  possible,  it  has  been  shown  that  a 
palm  under  proper  conditions  may  withstand  a 
temperature  as  low  as  5°  F.  without  injury.  The 
severe  freeze  of  January,  1913,  in  the  southwestern 

*In  a  letter  to  the  Reporter  on  Economic  Products,  Calcutta. 

fJones,  Joseph,  in  Agricultural  News,  p.  324,  Oct.  19,  1907: 
"The  fruit  (in  Dominica)  ripened  well,  there  being  little  loss  through 
decay  or  fermentation." 


32  DATE    GROWING 

United  States  left  the  palm  little  damaged,  although 
officially  recorded  temperatures  through  which  it 
passed  were  15°  at  Indio,  Cal.,  13^°  at  Mecca,  Cal., 
12°  at  Tempe,  Ariz.,  8°  and  9°  in  Texas,  and  5%°  at 
Tucson,  Ariz.  In  some  cases  it  killed  off  many  of  the 
leaves,  but  the  fruit  came  on  as  usual — in  fact  the 
only  damage  to  flowers  was  in  the  case  of  male  palms, 
which  seemed  in  many  cases  to  have  been  rendered 
sterile  by  the  temperature.  Young  palms  are  natur- 
ally more  tender,  but  they  can  be  easily  protected. 
No  such  low  temperatures  as  these  have  previously 
been  recorded  from  a  date-growing  country, — in 
Baghdad,  for  instance,  the  lowest  on  record  is  17° — 
and  that  the  palm  withstood  them  successfully  shows 
that  frost  need  hardly  be  taken  into  consideration  in 
the  future,  in  selecting  a  location  for  palms. 

For  the  man  who  wants  to  go  into  the  commercial 
production  of  dates  in  the  United  States  at  once,  the 
facts  which  I  have  quoted  will  have  little  importance; 
he  can  only  be  advised  to  confine  himself  to  the 
Salton  Basin  in  California  or  the  low-lying  parts  of 
Arizona.  But  the  investigator  who  wants  to  find  how 
far  he  can  extend  the  date-growing  region  may  get 
encouragement  from  the  experiments  of  other  coun- 
tries, which  show  that  there  is  at  least  a  possibility  of 
growing  eatable  dates  in  any  country  where  the 
summers  are  hot.  In  deciding  as  to  the  climate  for 
dates,  it  has  been  the  custom  to  sum  up  the  maxima 
of  heat;  but  this  is  a  misleading  method,  for  Vinson 
has  clearly  shown  that  the  growth  of  the  palm  varies 
not  according  to  the  heat  of  the  day,  but  according  to 
the  added  heat  of  day  and  night:  that  is,  the  palm 
grows  best  when  the  night  temperature  is  nearest 
that  of  the  day,  provided  both  be  fairly  high.  There- 


3 


Z 


THE  DATE  PALM   COUNTRY  33 

fore,  a  region  that  has  hot  days  but  cool  nights  would 
be  less  suited  to  the  palm  than  one  in  which  the  nights 
were  hotter,  even  if  the  maximum  day  temperature 
was  a  few  degrees  lower. 

In  the  choice  of  soil,  few  fruits  seem  so  easily 
pleased  as  the  date.  It  is  usually  said  that  a  sandy 
loam  is  best,  and  such  a  soil  is  certainly  good,  but 
the  statement  that  it  is  best  is  a  dogma  that  would 
be  very  difficult  to  prove. 

The  Arabic  authorities,  as  usual,  indulge  in  a 
great  deal  of  fanciful  speculation  on  the  subject. 
Qastus  says*  a  piece  of  land  "spotted  with  black 
and  white"  is  the  best.  If  he  means  anything,  it  is 
probably  that  the  land  should  be  rich,  with  some 
saline  efflorescence.  Amin  al  Madani,  who  represents 
the  most  enlightened  modern  ideas,  says,  f"  the  best 
soil  for  growing  the  palm  is  a  sweet,  red  clay,  and  the 
second  best  a  black  soil,  sandy  and  alkaline."  It  is 
a  widespread  Arab  theory  that  land  which  has  been 
cultivated  for  a  long  time  is  the  most  desirable,  and 
the  modern  Baghdad!  is  always  pleased  when  he  can 
plant  on  the  site  of  some  prehistoric  city.  The  soil 
of  Busreh,  which  produces  excellent  dates,  is  an 
exceedingly  stiff  clay.  Much  of  the  Egyptian  soil  is 
pure  adobe.  It  has  already  been  mentioned  that 
Deglet  Nur  in  Algeria  succeeds  in  sand  or  clay.  If  a 
sandy  soil  is  selected,  however,  it  will  have  to  be 
liberally  enriched  with  commercial  fertilizers,  or, 
better,  barnyard  manure,  in  order  to  produce  good 

*Qasttis  b.  Lliqa  al  Rumi,  The  Book  of  Greek  Agriculture,  Ch. 
75.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  Arabic  authorities  on  horticulture; 
in  fact,  its  origin  is  lost  in  obscurity.  The  best  trans,  is  that  of 
Sarjius  b.  Halias,  an  incomplete  MS.  of  which  I  possess. 

fFaqir  Amin  b.  Hasan  al  Madani,  Culture  of  the  Date  Palm, 
lithographed  at  the  Hasaniyeh  press,  Madina,  A.  D.  1886. 


34  DATE    GR.O  WING 

results.  Experiments  in  Coachella  Valley  leave  no 
doubt  as  to  that,  and  the  government  experiment 
stations  have  swallowed  up  carload  after  carload  of 
manure. 

One  may  undertake  date  culture  on  any  fairly 
good  soil,  if  he  uses  a  little  care  in  selecting  varieties 
adapted  to  it,  but  there  is  one  desirable  condition: 
good  drainage.  The  palm  requires  a  large  amount  of 
water,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  and  unless  this 
water  can  find  an  outlet  the  ground  will  soon  become 
water-logged — a  condition  that  will  be  especially 
serious  if  the  soil  is  alkaline. 

I  A  little  alkalinity  in  the  soil  is  no  hindrance,  for 

the  palm  is  remarkably  tolerant  of  it.  Arabs  consider 
that  it  does  best  in  a  salty  soil,  and  many  occidental 
investigators  have  followed  them  in  this  opinion,  but 
the  point  can  not  yet  be  considered  as  proved.  Ancient 
writers  did  not  hesitate  to  advise  that  common  salt 
be  added  to  the  soil,  in  cases  where  it  was  lacking. 
I  know  of  no  region  where  this  practice  is  followed 
today,  but  I  never  met  an  Arab  who  thought  that 
alkali  could  injure  a  palm,  even  in  large  quantities. 
They  are  mistaken  on  this  last  point,  however,  for 
it  is  easy  to  find  in  Algeria  palms  which  have  reached 
the  limit  of  alkali  tolerance,  and  others  which  have 
passed  it  and  no  longer  flourish.  Observation  would 
undoubtedly  show  the  same  results  in  other  parts  of 
the  world. 

Surface  indications  are  by  no  means  a  reliable 
guide,  and  anyone  who  contemplates  growing  dates 
should  investigate  his  soil  to  the  depth  of  six  or  eight 
feet.  It  may  be  excessively  saline  on  the  surface,  but 
if  there  is  one  stratum  of  good  soil  in  which  the  roots 
can  spread  out,  success  will  be  possible.  One  per  cent 


THE  DATE  PALM   COUNTRY  86 

may  be  taken  as  a  practical  limit  for  alkalinity; 
if  there  is  a  layer  of  soil  with  less  salt  than  this,  one 
may  grow  dates  profitably,  but  if  the  soil  at  all  depths 
contains  more  than  this,  another  location  should  be 
found.  Best  results  will  be  secured  if  the  alkali  does 
not  exceed  0.6%,  and  3%  may  be  conveniently  taken 
as  a  limit  beyond  which  the  palm  will  not  grow. 

If  the  irrigating  water  is  free  from  alkalinity,  it 
will,  of  course,  help  to  counteract  that  of  the  soil. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  the  water  is  brackish  it  is 
essential  to  keep  well  within  the  limit  of  alkali  resist- 
ance in  the  soil,  otherwise  the  combination  of  salty 
soil  and  brackish  water  will  be  too  much  for  the 
palm,  even  though  neither  one  were  excessively 
alkaline,  taken  by  itself.  Salt  on  the  surface  of  the 
ground  is  most  conspicuous  but  does  the  least  harm, 
and  one  frequently  sees  palms  flourishing  in  a  soil 
which  is  incrusted  with  alkali  on  the  surface,  so  that  it 
looks  as  if  covered  with  snow.  In  such  cases  it  is 
certain  that  there  is  fairly  good  soil  underneath.  The 
so-called  black  alkali,  consisting  of  carbonates  of 
sodium  and  potassium,  is  much  more  dangerous  than 
the  more  or  less  neutral  chlorids,  sulfates  and  nitrates 
of  sodium,  potassium  and  magnesium,  which  go  by 
the  name  of  white  alkali. 

It  need  hardly  be  mentioned  that  young  plants 
are  more  affected  by  alkali  than  old  ones,  and  that 
seedlings  will  fail  in  a  soil  that  yet  might  give  good 
results  with  adult  palms.  It  is  also  to  be  noted  that 
some  varieties  of  date  are  much  more  resistant  to 
alkali  than  others:  Ghars  and  Zahidi  are  particularly 
valuable  in  this  respect. 

To  sum  up:  one  should  investigate  before  he 
begins,  and  should  not  try  to  grow  varieties  of  dates 


36  DATE    GROWING 

ill  suited  to  his  conditions;  but  if  he  investigates 
intelligently  he  may  go  ahead  in  confidence,  for  any 
good,  well-drained  soil,  even  though  it  be  slightly 
alkaline,  is  adapted  to  most  varieties  of  dates. 

One  of  the  fundamental  propositions  of  date 
culture  is  that  the  palm  requires  a  large  supply  of 
water  for  irrigation.  This  rule  is  apparently  subject 
to  some  striking  exceptions,  and  future  experiments 
will  probably  change  our  ideas  on  the  subject  still 
more,  though  they  can  hardly  shake  the  fact  that  the 
palm  is  a  water-loving  plant. 

It  is,  indeed,  astonishing  to  find  what  large 
quantities  of  water  the  palm  can  take  without  injury. 
The  immense  plantations  around  Busreh — the  most 
important,  commercially,  in  the  world — are  ordinarily 
irrigated,  and  copiously  irrigated,  every  twelve  hours 
throughout  the  year,  for  the  operation  is  performed 
by  the  action  of  the  Persian  Gulf  tide,  which  backs  up 
the  fresh  water  in  the  Shatt  al  Arab.  The  admirably 
managed  plantations  of  Fardh  dates  in  Oman  usually 
get  a  good  irrigation  once  a  week.  Many  of  the 
palms  in  Egypt  are  continuously  inundated  for  two 
months  during  the  summer,  and  the  growers  never 
worry  about  possible  danger  to  the  crop  unless  the 
water  has  been  on  their  roots  for  more  than  seventy 
days.  Certainly  there  are  few  fruit  trees  that  could 
survive  such  tests. 

It  is  such  characteristics,  and  the  fact  that  the 
palm  in  the  desert  is  only  found  around  water  holes, 
that  led  poets  to  name  it  Friend  of  the  Fountain. 
Faqir  Amin  al  Madani  expresses  the  general  opinion 
when  he  says:  "Know  that  no  culture  in  the  world 
stands  more  water  than  the  palm,  and  turn  the 
stream  on  it  every  day,  remembering  that  every 


AFTER  A  HARD  FREEZE 

Palms  at  Tempe,   Arizona,   lost   many  leaves  in  temperature  of  12 
but  crop  was  uninjured.     Egyptian  palm,  variety  Badrashin. 


3F., 


THE  DATE  PALM   COUNTRY  87 

time  you  increase  the  water  supply  you  increase  the 
crop,  and  increase  equally  the  strength  of  the  palm 
itself.  The  palm  flourishes  under  such  conditions,  and 
its  strength  and  vigor  will  be  so  much  increased  that 
ten  palms  grown  under  such  conditions  will  be  worth 
one  hundred  grown  in  the  ordinary  manner." 

Opposing  this  we  find  some  surprising  facts.  At 
Madina,  which  to  an  Arab  is  the  world's  headquarters 
of  scientific  date  growing,  many  of  the  palms  are 
never  irrigated,  but  depend  on  the  insignificant  rain- 
fall for  whatever  moisture  they  may  receive,  and  the 
accurate  Burckhardtf  assures  us  "the  fruit  of  the 
latter,  although  less  abundant,  is  more  esteemed." 
In  Egypt  some  of  the  best  dates  are  said  to  be  grown 
without  irrigation,  particularly  the  varieties  Amhat 
and  Samani.  One  grove  in  Coachella  Valley  produced 
well  last  year,  although  irrigated  only  six  times. 

Such  facts  have  led  many  to  suppose  that  the 
palm  might  give  good  results  with  a  small  amount  of 
water.  We  have  not  yet  sufficient  data  to  decide  on 
this  point,  but  one  should  be  very  cautious  in  trying 
to  grow  dates  by  dry  farming.  All  of  the  above  cases 
may  be  explained  by  supposing  that  the  roots  of  the 
palms  reach  ground  water,  in  which  case  they  would 
of  course  require  no  surface  irrigation.  The  Tempe 
garden  has  not  been  irrigated  for  seven  years,  because 
of  the  high  level  of  ground  water.  The  largest  planta- 
tion at  Baghdad— that  of  Kathim  Pasha,  with  20,000 
palms — had  not  been  irrigated  for  a  year,  when  I 
saw  it,  and  yet  it  produced  a  good  crop  of  fruit;  but 
investigation  showed  that  it  was  located  in  what  had 
formerly  been  the  bed  of  the  Tigris  River,  and  although 

fBurckhardt,  John  Lewis.      Travels  in  Arabia,  vol.  II,  p.  211  ff. 
London,  1829. 


38  DATE    GROWING 

the  stream  has  taken  a  new  channel,  doubtless  there 
is  still  underground  water  below  the  plantation. 
It  is  also  proper  to  note  that,  in  the  case  of  Madina 
palms,  Burton  contradicts  his  predecessor,  saying, 
"One  of  the  reasons  for  the  excellence  of  the  Madinah 
dates  is  the  quantity  of  water  they  obtain ;  each  garden 
or  field  has  its  well;  and  even  in  the  hottest  weather 
the  Persian  wheel  floods  the  soil  every  third  day. 
It  has  been  observed  that  the  date  tree  can  live  in  dry 
and  barren  spots;  but  it  loves  the  beds  of  streams  and 
places  where  moisture  is  procurable.  The  palms 
scattered  over  the  other  parts  of  the  plain,  and 
depending  solely  on  rainwater,  produce  less  fruit, 
and  that  too  of  an  inferior  quality."* 

The  result  of  these  facts  is  to  leave  a  grower  some- 
what uncertain  when  he  asks  himself  the  important 
question,  "How  much  water  do  I  need  for  an  acre  of 
palms?"  Estimates  published  in  the  United  States 
vary  from  one-fifth  of  a  miner's  inch  per  acre  to  one 
inch.  It  is  certainly  much  better  to  start  in  with 
too  much  than  too  little,  and  in  the  present  state  of 
knowledge  one  would  be  ill-advised  who  attempted  to 
start  a  date  plantation  without  an  abundant  water 
supply,  even  on  soil  which  held  moisture  particularly 
well.  On  such  a  soil,  the  estimate  of  one-fifth  inch  per 
acre  might  possibly  suffice;  on  a  light  sandy  soil  one 
would  not  have  too  much  if  he  possessed  a  full  inch 
for  each  fifty  palms,  and  in  general  this  quantity 
should  be  available,  if  one  wishes  to  be  safe.  If  a 

*Burton,  R.  F.,  Personal  Narrative  of  a  Pilgrimage  of  Al  Madinah 
and  Meccah,  vol.  1,  p.  403.  As  to  the  excellence  of  the  unirrigated 
fruit,  Burckhardt  is  more  likely  to  be  correct,  for  a  letter  of  Muham- 
mad to  Harith  b.  Kaftan  is  extant,  concerning  a  division  of  spoils 
in  which  the  prophet  took  the  unirrigated  palms  and  left  the  irrigated 
ones;  and  he  was  not  the  man  to  take  the  worst  of  anything.  Cf. 
Juhari,  art.  Dhamineh. 


THE  DATE  PALM  COUNTRY  39 

subsidiary  crop  is  to  be  grown  between  the  palms, 
one  must  not  fail  to  make  allowance  for  the  additional 
supply  of  water  needed.  And  this  supply  will  have 
to  be  an  absolute  minimum,  for  the  palm  naturally 
demands  most  water  in  midsummer,  when  the  water 
supply  is  probably  at  the  lowest  point  it  reaches 
during  the  year. 

Cold  water  is  a  disadvantage,  and  warm  water 
a  corresponding  advantage.  The  superlative  Khal- 
aseh  of  Hasa  is  irrigated  by  hot  springs,  and  the  first 
dates  which  arrive  on  the  market  of  Masqat  (about 
May  15)  are  from  plantations  around  hot  springs. 
The  water  of  wells  in  the  southwestern  United  States 
is  ordinarily  warm  enough  to  be  satisfactory.  In 
Samail  Valley  and  other  parts  of  Oman  the  water  is, 
in  effect,  artificially  warmed,  by  passing  through 
cement  conduits  several  miles  long,  in  the  hot,  open 
beds  of  the  dry  watercourses. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  most  Arab  date 
plantations  get  practically  no  cultivation,  and  that 
if  the  surface  of  the  ground  were  kept  in  a  condition 
to  retain  moisture,  a  less  amount  of  water  would  un- 
doubtedly give  the  same  results.  But  in  a  dry  climate 
like  that  of  Coachella  Valley  there  is  already  enough 
difficulty  in  keeping  choice,  soft  dates  like  Deglet  Nur 
from  shriveling  or  mummifying  as  they  ripen,  and 
anyone  who  embarks  in  date  culture  without  making 
sure  that  he  has  a  liberal  supply  of  water — not  much 
less  than  an  inch  to  the  acre — and  without  making 
sure  that  this  supply  will  be  permanent  and  not 
subject  to  diminution  during  the  hottest  months  of 
the  year,  is  only  inviting  failure. 


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COMMERCIAL  DATE  GROWING 


CHAPTER   III 
COMMERCIAL  DATE  GROWING 

It  was  shown  in  the  last  chapter  that  the  palm 
may  be  grown  experimentally  in  many  places  where 
it  cannot  be  grown  profitably;  and  that  in  many 
regions  it  may  sometime  be  grown  with  profit,  al- 
though there  is  not  yet  sufficient  proof  to  warrant 
anyone  making  an  investment  at  present.  This  is  a 
vital  point  to  one  who  intends  to  take  up  the  culture 
with  the  purpose  of  deriving  profit  from  it,  and  he 
can  not  afford  to  confuse  successful  culture  with 
profitable  commercial  culture.  There  is  a  wide 
difference  between  them,  which  I  will  try  to  show 
in  some  detail;  not  only  does  it  exist  in  respect  to 
the  physical  conditions  under  which  the  palm  may 
be  grown,  but  also  in  the  means  by  which  it  is  repro- 
duced. The  question  is,  how  shall  the  palm  be  propa- 
gated to  give  not  only  good  results,  but  good  results 
from  a  commercial  point  of  view,  the  point  of  view  of  a 
man  who  is  more  interested  in  cash  returns  than  in 
advancing  the  cause  of  pure  science? 

A  slight  consideration  of  the  case,  or  experience 
with  any  other  kind  of  agriculture,  will  show  that  it  is 
important  to  produce  good  fruit,  but  it  is  equally 
important  to  produce  fruit  that  is  uniformly  good, 
for  profitable  marketing  depends  on  having  a  large 
enough  quantity  of  fruit  that  is  uniform,  to  permit  it 
to  be  graded,  and  sold  as  graded  fruit  of  a  standard 
pack.  The  grower  who  packed  half  a  dozen  kinds 
of  apples,  or  oranges,  in  the  same  box  would  get  little 
more  than  a  cull  price  for  the  box,  even  though  each 


44  DATE    G.R  OWING 

of  the  apples  or  oranges  might,  individually,  be  of 
first  class  quality;  but  if  his  box  is  solid  Winesaps, 
or  Washington  Navels,  he  will  get  the  highest  market 
price.  The  same  thing  is  true,  and  always  will  be 
true,  of  dates,  and  the  grower  who  is  going  into  the 
culture  commercially  must  keep  this  fact  before  his 
eyes  at  every  stage  of  his  operations. 

Now,  good  dates  can  be  grown  from  seed.  All 
the  choice  varieties  in  existence  have  probably  origi- 
nated in  that  way,  and  then  been  propagated  slowly 
by  offshoots.  Often  seedling  dates  are  inferior  but 
occasionally  they  are  very  superior,  and  anyone  who 
broadly  condemns  seedling  dates  as  worthless  is  merely 
inviting  ridicule.  Nevertheless,  it  is  not  possible  to 
attain  the  highest  degree  of  success  in  commercial 
growing  of  dates  if  one  depends  entirely  on  seedlings, 
because  no  matter  how  good  their  fruit  may  be,  it 
can  never  be  uniform,  and  that  is  a  necessary  factor 
in  meeting  the  demands  of  the  high-priced  trade. 

Dates  are  produced  commercially  from  seedling 
palms  in  three  countries — Mexico,  Spain,  and  India. 
In  all  the  rest  of  the  world,  including  all  regions 
which  have  any  appreciable  influence  on  the  world's 
commerce  in  dates,  commercial  production  is  solely 
by  means  of  offshoots.  An  examination  of  conditions 
in  various  countries,  then,  should  form  a  reliable 
guide  for  American  planters. 

"Everywhere  in  Mexico,"  says  W.  T.  Swingle,* 
"date  culture  is  carried  on  in  the  most  primitive 
manner,  seedlings  being  everywhere  grown,  and  the 
propagation  of  superior  varieties  by  offshoots  nearly 
or  quite  unknown."  He  concludes  that  as  far  as 
Americans  are  concerned,  "even  the  growers  of 

*In  Bui.  B.  P.  I.  No.  53,  p.  135. 


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COMMERCIAL  DATE  GROWING  45 

second-class  and  ordinary  dates  have  no  cause  for 
alarm,"  because  "at  present  the  inferior  and  badly 
packed  seedling  dates  produced  in  Mexico  are  the 
poorest  that  reach  our  markets,  and  are  of  no  import- 
ance whatever." 

Conditions  are  similar  in  Spain.  No  dates  are 
exported,  for  the  reason  that  they  are  not  fit  for 
export.  Scarcely  two  palms  can  be  found  that  bear 
fruit  alike,  and  the  general  bad  quality  of  it  is  by  no 
means  wholly  due  to  its  climate.  Although  Spain 
might  easily  grow  all  the  dates  it  needs  for  its  own 
use,  if  the  industry  were  on  a  scientific  basis  and 
only  desirable  varieties  perpetuated,  it  actually 
imports  large  quantities  of  offshoot-grown  dates 
from  the  Tafilalet  oases  of  Morocco,  which  supply  all 
the  choice  trade  (at  about  twenty-five  cents  a  pound), 
while  the  local  seedlings  are  sold  at  two  or  three  cents 
a  pound,  and  find  a  difficult  sale  even  at  such  prices. 

In  India  the  industry  is  of  very  little  importance, 
the  dates  produced  being  small  in  quantity,  and  being 
mainly  sold  in  the  villages  where  they  are  grown. 
Practically  all  the  dates  on  the  market  are  imported 
from  the  Persian  Gulf,  where  the  trees  are  all  grown 
from  offshoots,  and  D.  Milne,  director  of  date  growing 
experiments  in  the  Panjab,*  says  that  the  best  of  the 
native  fruit  is  inferior  to  the  worst  of  the  imported. 
A  generation  ago  a  movement  was  started  to  make 
India  a  great  date-growing  country,  through  seedlings. 
Many  of  these  were  grown,  but  the  results  were  so 
unsatisfactory  that  this  has  been  given  up,  and  the 
government  is  now  devoting  all  its  energies  to  the 
production  of  palms  from  offshoots,  for  which  purpose 
large  quantities  are  imported  from  Busreh  each  year. 

*Bul.  Panjab  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1912. 


46  DATE    GJR  OWING 

The  important  date-growing  countries  of  the 
world  are  Arabia,  Mesopotamia,  and  North  Africa, 
including  Egypt,  Tunisia,  Algeria,  and  Morocco.  In 
every  one  of  these  regions  propagation,  unless  by 
accident,  is  solely  from  offshoots,  which  are  taken 
from  palms  of  recognized  merit. 

Experience  of  centuries,  then,  has  led  to  the 
same  result  in  every  part  of  the  world  where  dates 
can  be  grown.  It  has  proved  that  high-grade  dates 
of  uniform  quality  can,  under  existing  circumstances, 
be  produced  only  by  offshoots,  and  that  the  plantation 
of  seedlings  for  such  a  purpose  is  not  practicable. 

To  this  experience  of  native  growers  is  now 
added  the  testimony  of  modern  scientists,  who  are 
not  swayed  by  theory  or  misled  by  incomplete  ob- 
servations in  practice.  These  men  have  surveyed 
the  entire  field,  have  gathered  all  the  evidence  avail- 
able, sifted  it,  weighed  it.  Some  of  the  greatest  living 
scientists  have  devoted  their  attention  to  the  subject. 
They  are  unanimous  in  agreeing  that  the  planting  of 
seedlings  with  the  idea  of  growing  dates  for  the  fancy 
trade  is  inadvisable.  So  far  as  the  records  show,  there 
is  not  a  scientist  of  established  reputation  in  the 
world  today  who  advocates  the  planting  of  seedling 
dates,  under  the  present  circumstances,  for  the  purpose 
of  producing  high-class  fruit. 

The  testimony  of  the  rest  of  the  world,  then,  is 
unanimous.  But  in  the  United  States,  during  the  last 
ten  years,  large  quantities  of  date  seeds  have  been 
planted,  under  better  conditions  than  have  ever 
before  been  furnished.  If  seedlings  could  be  successful 
anywhere,  they  would  be  in  the  United  States,  where 
time  and  expense  have  been  lavished  in  order  to  give 
them  a  chance  to  do  their  best. 


COMMERCIAL  DATE  GROWING  47 

Has  there  been  anything  in  the  history  of  this 
work  to  change  the  verdict  of  science?  Careful  survey 
of  the  entire  field  shows  that  there  has  not.  The 
seedlings,  under  perfect  conditions  as  regards  planting 
and  cultivation,  have  indeed  distinguished  themselves 
in  various  ways.  They  have  been  made  to  grow  faster, 
to  flower  sooner,  to  bear  fruit  earlier,  than  anywhere 
else.  But  the  fundamental  difficulty,  that  of  their 
variability,  remains,  and  there  is  no  evidence  to 
prove  that  it  has  been  diminished  in  any  way.  Only 
one  thing  can  diminish  it — the  scientific  breeding  of 
a  pure  race.*  American  enterprise  has  already 
undertaken  this,  but  it  will  require  many  plant- 
generations  to  accomplish  the  result  desired.  When 
that  time  comes,  seeds  will  be  available  that  will 
probably  perpetuate  the  parent  with  fair  accuracy. 
But  that  is  merely  a  possibility  of  the  future,  and  as 
far  as  the  present  commercial  production  of  choice 
dates  is  concerned  it  has  absolutely  no  bearing. 

There  are,  of  course,  many  seedlings  which  bear 
excellent  fruit.  Obviously,  it  is  scientifically  possible 
for  a  seedling  to  be  better  than  its  parent;  but  it  is 
scientifically  probable  that  it  will  be  worse.  All  the 
varieties  now  in  existence  in  the  world  are  probably 
the  result  of  the  isolation  of  a  chance  seedling  and  its 
subsequent  perpetuation  by  offshoots,  and  the  creation 
of  such  new  and  improved  varieties  will  go  on  in  the 
United  States  just  as  much  as,  or  more  than,  it  has  in 
other  parts  of  the  world.  But  this  is  purely  an 
idealistic  matter  from  a  commercial  point  of  view, 
because  of  the  long  time  necessary  to  multiply  a 
variety  which  starts  as  one  tree.  The  commercial 

*Because,  of  course,  the  variability  of  seedlings  is  due  to  cross- 
pollination  through  centuries.  From  this  it  results  that  soft  date 
seeds  may  even  produce  dry  dates,  or  vice-versa. 


48  DATE    GROWING 

grower  of  today  does  not  want  to  work  solely  for 
posterity.  Such  work  is  properly  a  side  issue  with 
private  growers,  or  a  field  for  state  or  governmental 
experimentation . 

The  commercial  grower  who  plants  seeds  on  the 
theory  that  he  will  get  a  new  and  improved  strain 
is  merely  starting  where  the  Arabs  did  a  thousand 
years  ago.  There  are  already  many  good  varieties  of 
dates  in  the  world.  The  man  who  grows  palms  by 
taking  offshoots  from  these  is  capitalizing  the  expe- 
rience of  centuries.  Instead  of  working  for  the 
future,  he  is  letting  the  past  work  for  him. 

An  examination  of  various  plantations  of  seed- 
lings in  the  United  States  gives  no  indication  that 
these  can  produce  dates  to  compete  with  the  choice 
product  of  offshoots  from  palms  of  world-famous 
varieties.  The  best  that  advocates  of  the  com- 
mercial planting  of  seedlings  claim  is  that  10% 
or  15%  of  the  trees  may  be  good — and  note  that  the 
claim  is,  good,  not  good  and  uniform.  Seedlings, 
indeed,  offer  an  excellent  opportunity  for  the  rancher 
to  grow  dates  for  his  own  use.  If  he  plants  them  as  a 
windbreak,  or  as  a  hedge  around  his  field,  his  expense 
will  be  little,  the  land  occupied  will  be  of  small  value, 
and  he  will  have  plenty  of  dates  which  are  good  to  eat. 

But  the  dates  from  ten  palms  may  all  be  good, 
considered  separately,  and  yet  if  they  differ  each  one 
from  the  other,  they  can  not  be  graded  and  sold  at 
the  top  market  price,  no  matter  how  good  they  may  be. 

That  is  the  situation  which  faces  the  man  who 
plants  seedlings  for  commercial  purposes.  He  must 
expect  to  confine  himself  to  the  lower  priced  trade; 
and  it  is  not  from  this  trade,  but  from  the  fancy  trade, 
that  large  profits  are  to  be  made.  This  fancy,  profit- 


PAINTING  OFFSHOOT  BASES 

A  coat  of  white  lead  or  asphaltum  is  a  desirable  precaution  before  pah 
are    shipped    or    planted. 


COMMERCIAL  DATE  GROWING  49 

able  trade  will  be  open  solely  to  the  grower  whose 
dates  are  uniform — and  that  means  the  grower  who 
plants  offshoots. 

There  is  one  particular  way  in  which  seedlings 
can  be  of  value  to  the  commercial  grower,  although 
not  in  the  form  of  immediate  cash  returns — that  is, 
as  a  school  of  experience.  If  he  has  a  quantity  of 
seedling  dates  he  can  experiment  as  much  as  he  likes 
in  transplanting,  cutting  offshoots,  striving  to  increase 
or  decrease  the  production  of  offshoots,  handling  the 
pollen,  and  in  many  other  fields  where  there  is  still 
much  to  be  learned;  and  he  can  do  this  without  feeling 
that  he  is  losing  money  by  injuring  a  profitable  crop. 
Furthermore,  he  will  be  certain  to  have  an  abundance 
of  pollen  whenever  he  wants  it.  And  if  among  his 
seedlings  there  is  one  of  exceptional  merit  he  can 
proceed  to  the  propagation  of  this  by  offshoots,  with 
the  idea  of  eventually  getting  enough  of  this  one 
variety  to  make  a  profitable  planting;  or  he  can  sell 
the  offshoots  in  areas  which  are  now  under  quarantine 
against  the  scale  diseases,  because  seedling  palms 
and  their  offshoots  are  usually  free  from  disease  if 
they  are  reasonably  protected  from  infection.  From 
his  seedlings,  too,  he  will  have  plenty  of  fruit  for  his 
home  use,  since  for  that  purpose  it  makes  no  difference 
whether  it  is  uniform  or  not,  as  long  as  it  is  eatable. 
No  one,  therefore,  can  afford  to  neglect  seedling  dates, 
any  more  than  he  can  afford  to  depend  on  them;  but 
as  Swingle  says,f  "Any  proposal  to  grow  seedling 
dates  alone  on  a  commercial  scale  as  a  source  of  profit 
is,  to  say  the  least,  premature." 

It  is  not  necessary  to  insist  on  the  practical  dis- 

fSwingle,  W.  T.  The  Present  Status  of  Date  Culture  in  the 
Southwestern  States.  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agr.,  B.P.I..  Circular  No.  129, 
p.  6.  Washington,  June  7,  1913. 


50  DATE    GROWING 

advantage  of  the  equality  of  sex  which  comes  from 
planting  seeds — the  drawback  is  too  apparent.  One 
must  wait  several  years  before  his  palms  bloom,  and 
in  the  meantime  he  is  caring  for  fifty  or  sixty  males 
out  of  every  hundred  palms — males  which  he  will 
destroy  as  soon  as  he  can  detect  them,  but  in  the  mean- 
time all  must  be  watered,  fertilized,  cultivated  alike. 
Let  us  take  a  concrete  instance:  A.  and  B.  start  date 
plantations  at  the  same  time,  the  former  with  one 
hundred  offshoots,  the  latter  with  one  hundred 
seedlings.  At  the  end  of  five  years  A.  is  getting  a 
profitable  crop  from  every  one  of  his  hundred  palms, 
while  B.  has  thrown  away  fifty  or  more  males  and 
thirty  or  forty  of  the  remaining  females,  and  is  rue- 
fully contemplating  the  mixed  quality  of  the  rest. 
The  knowledge  that  his  dates  are  good  to  eat  does 
not  compensate  him  for  the  fact  that  the  product  of 
his  twelve  or  fifteen  remaining  trees  is  too  diverse 
for  anything  but  low-priced  trade. 

In  practice,  of  course,  B.  would  partly  overcome 
this  handicap  by  planting  a  very  large  number  of 
seeds;  yet  the  principle  holds  good.  And  in  addition, 
every  palm  planted  means  so  much  more  expense 
in  cultivation,  as  well  as  the  value  of  the  ground 
which  it  occupies  until  it  is  dug  up  and  thrown  away. 

I  alluded  to  the  possibility  of  breeding  a  strain 
of  dates  that  will  come  fairly  true  to  seed.  This  is  a 
field  in  which  there  will  be  a  real  future,  but  as  it  is 
not  likely  to  be  entered  by  the  commercial  grower, 
it  is  hardly  worth  while  to  dwell  on  it  at  length. 
The  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  and  the 
University  of  Arizona  staff  have  undertaken  to  breed 


COMMERCIAL  DATE  GROWING  51 

a  pure  race  of  Deglet  Nurs,*  and  a  good  start  has 
already  been  made,  but  it  will  require  a  number  of 
plant  generations  to  fix  the  type,  and  it  must  not  be 
assumed  that  because  a  seed  is  nearly  pure  Deglet  Nur 
on  both  sides,  it  will  be  exempt  from  a  tendency  to 
variation;  neither  can  the  undesirable  preponderance 
of  males  be  eliminated.  While  planting  pure-bred 
seed  will  give  far  better  results  than  planting  ordi- 
nary seed  of  mixed  parentage,  yet  it  will  never  take 
the  place  of  a  sexual  propagation — in  this  case,  by 
offshoots — as  the  best  way  to  multiply  date  palms. 

At  present  this  is  mere  theory,  for  although  the 
purification  of  the  one  variety,  Deglet  Nur,  has  been 
started,  it  is  by  no  means  finished.  Nevertheless, 
anyone  who  desires  to  plant  seeds  at  the  present  time 
should  certainly  take  advantage  of  the  work  that  has 
already  been  done,  providing  he  wants  Deglet  Nur 
seed,  by  securing  seed  from  the  Bureau  of  Plant 
Industry. 

Dr.  L.  Trabut,  Algerian  government  botanist, 
considers  that  Deglet  Nur  in  some  Tunisian  oases  has 
been  unknowingly  inbred  until  the  strain  is  much 
purer  than  in  Algeria,  and  likely  to  give  better  results 
when  planted  from  seed.  The  same  is  probably  true 
with  regard  to  the  Fardh  dates  of  Oman,  since  their 
culture  is  confined  to  a  few  oases  where  they  largely 
predominate,  and  it  is  therefore  likely  that  males  in 
use  will  be  seedling  Fardhs,  rather  than  seedlings  of 
some  other  variety.  The  results  obtained  in  growing 
Tafilalet  dates  from  seed  give  reason  to  believe  that 
Majhul  has  been  inbred  there  until  it  is  purer  than 

*Mason,  Silas  C.  Date  Growing  in  Southern  California.  Report 
of  Thirty-fourth  Fruit  Growers'  Convention,  p.  170.  Sacramento, 
State  Printing  Office,  1908. 


52  DATE    GROWING 

most  dates.  But  in  planting  seeds  of  ordinary  com- 
mercial dates  one  takes  the  maximum  risk  of  getting 
unsatisfactory  results,  since  the  males  from  which  they 
are  pollinated  are  usually  chance  seedlings,  and  likely 
to  be  seedlings  of  inferior  varieties,  usually  dry  dates, 
which  have  been  dropped  by  natives. 

As  occasional  brilliant  results  achieved  by  seed- 
ling dates  in  the  United  States  have  caused  the  larger 
percentage  of  failures  to  be  overlooked,  it  is  worth 
while  to  quote  the  observations  of  some  of  the  scien- 
tists who  have  given  the  subject  critical  study. 

J.  Dybowski,  former  superintendent  of  the  Jardin 
Colonial,  Paris,  says  in  "Traite  Pratique  des  Cultures 
Tropicales,"  Challamel,  Paris,  1902,  vol.  I,  p.  493: 

"The  date  palm  is  multiplied  with  great  facility 
by  means  of  seeds,  which  germinate  readily  as  soon 
as  they  are  placed  in  contact  with  the  soil.  But  the 
plant,  because  of  the  antiquity  of  its  culture,  possesses 
an  extreme  variability,  so  that,  no  matter  how  much 
care  is  used  in  selecting  the  seeds,  one  is  never  certain 
that  he  will  not  see  the  plants  retrograde  toward  a 
more  primitive  type  and,  later,  give  only  worthless 
fruits.  We  must,  then,  consider  that  this  means  of 
propagation  should  be  entirely  abandoned  in  actual 
practice,  and  that  no  one  should  hope  by  it  to  trans- 
plant to  a  new  locality  the  culture  of  this  tree." 

Dr.  George  Schweinfurth,  explorer  and  most 
famous  of  modern  botanists  in  Egypt,  in  Gartenflora 
(Berlin),  vol.  50,  pp.  506  ff : 

"All  date  palms  grown  from  seed  give  results  of 
the  highest  degree  of  uncertainty  in  respect  to  the 
transmission  of  desirable  characteristics.  In  addition, 
the  majority  of  the  seedlings  are  of  the  male  sex. 
The  young  offshoots,  growing  at  the  base  of  the  trunk, 


COMMERCIAL  DATE   GROWING  53 

alone  guarantee  the  purity  of  the  race  and  especially 
(the  identity  of)  the  sex." 

Text  Book  of  Egyptian  Agriculture,  published  by 
Department  of  Agricultural  and  Technical  Education, 
Ministry  of  Education,  Cairo,  1911;  Ed.  by  G.  P. 
Foaden,  sec. -gen.  Khedivial  Agr.  Soc.,  Cairo,  and  F. 
Fletcher,  principal  of  the  School  of  Agriculture,  Gizeh : 

"Dates  are  propagated  either  by  seed  or  by 
suckers.  As  with  most  other  fruits,  dates  do  not 
always  come  true  to  seed,  hence  the  only  sure  way  to 
obtain  good  dates  is  to  obtain  suckers  from  trees  of 
established  excellence.  Propagation  from  seed  is  of 
little  value  when  we  desire  to  obtain  dates  of  the  same 
quality  as  those  from  which  seeds  were  obtained,  or 
when  we  wish  to  obtain  a  correct  proportion  of  male 
to  female  trees.  Again,  seedling  palms  are  usually 
poor,  and  much  later  in  maturing  their  fruit.  Gener- 
ally the  fruits  from  such  trees  have  large  seeds  and 
little  flesh." 

Woodrow,  the  acknowledged  authority  on  horti- 
culture in  India  at  the  present  day,  says  in  his  "Trop- 
ical Gardening"  (1910),  that  he  planted  seeds  of  good 
imported  dates  of  known  varieties;  of  the  resulting 
palms  a  few  were  good,  but  the  rest  he  could  not  dis- 
tinguish in  any  way  from  Phoenix  sylvestris,  the  wild 
date  palm  of  India,  the  fruit  of  which  is  worthless. 

Dr.  E.  Bonavia,  the  pioneer  authority  on  date 
culture  in  India,  says  in  the  Indian  Agriculturist  for 
May  16,  1885,  "In  the  Lucknow  garden  alone  there 
are  upwards  of  252  seedlings,  varying  from  twelve  to 
thirteen  years  old,  and  I  am  informed  that  there  are 
hardly  two  alike." 

W.  T.  Swingle,  "The  Date  Palm,"  Bui.  No.  53, 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  Washington,  1904,  p.  18: 


54  DATE    GROWING 

0 

"Date  palms  may  be  grown  from  seed,  and  are 
generally  so  grown  in  Mexico  and  India,  but  if  so 
propagated  something  over  half  the  palms  are  males, 
which  produce  no  fruit  whatever,  while  of  the  remain- 
ing female  plants  probably,  on  the  average,  not  more 
than  one  in  ten  produces  good  fruit.  This  would 
mean  that  in  planting  one  hundred  seeds,  on  the 
average  only  four  or  five  palms  bearing  good  dates 
would  be  secured,  and  probably  as  many  more  of 
second  quality,  or  in  all  some  10%  of  the  number 
planted  would  yield  edible  fruit.  It  should  be  said 
that  in  Arizona,  and  even  in  Mexico,  very  many  of 
the  seedling  sorts  do  not  reach  maturity  because  of 
the  insufficient  summer  heat;  but  if  grown  in  the 
Salton  Basin,  where  all  the  sorts  could  mature,  a 
larger  proportion,  perhaps  15%,  would  produce  fruit 
that  could  be  used." 

Ibid.,  p.  20: 

"The  seedlings  of  a  single  sort  of  date  may 
present  the  most  remarkable  variations,  and  usually 
the  parent  type  is  not  exactly  reproduced  by  any  of 
the  offspring.  This  is  clearly  shown  by  the  experi- 
ments of  Col.  Sam  Taylor,  of  Winters,  Cal,,  who  tried 
to  propagate  from  seed  the  valuable,  early-ripening, 
Wolfskill  date  on  his  place.  This  was  done  because 
the  palm  had  ceased  to  produce  offshoots  before  its 
value  was  recognized.  Many  of  these  seedling  dates 
have  fruited,  but  none  resembles  in  the  slightest 
degree  the  parent  variety;  most  of  them  are  much 
later  and  consequently  fail  to  mature  at  Winters, 
where  the  summer  heat  is  insufficient  to  ripen  any 
but  the  earliest  sorts." 

David  Fairchild,  "Persian  Gulf  Dates,"  Bureau 


COMMERCIAL  DATE  GROWING  55 

of  Plant  Industry  Bui.  No.  54,  Washington,   1903, 
p.  20: 

"There  are  thousands  of  seedlings  called  'degal', 
but  these  form  a  small  proportion  of  the  plantations 
and  are  recognized  as  bearing  inferior  dates.  The 
market  demand  is  for  special  uniform  qualities,  and 
these  seedling  dates  are  excluded  because  of  their 
variability." 

Ibid.,  p.  21:  "There  are  hundreds  of  varieties  of 
dates  in  the  Persian  Gulf  region,  nearly  every  seedling 
being  more  or  less  different  from  its  neighbor." 

D.  Milne,  Economic  Botanist  to  Government  of 
the  Panjab,  in  charge  of  date  culture  there  and  the 
recognized  modern  authority  on  the  subject  in  India, 
in  a  letter  to  me,  dated  October  24,  1912: 

"Regarding  propagation  of  date  palms  by  seeds 
as  compared  to  propagation  by  suckers,  there  is  in  my 
judgment  no  room  for  two  opinions.  I  wish  you  had 
had  time  to  go  to  the  western  side  of  the  Panjab  with 
me.  There  are  many  excellent  examples  there  of  the 
stupidity  of  the  propagation  of  date  palms  by  seed. 
There  I  could  have  shown  you  thousands  of  date 
palms  grown  from  seed,  and  which  produce  dates 
only  fit  for  feeding  to  goats.  Growing  side  by  side 
with  these  are  date  trees  propagated  from  suckers, 
and  which  yield  most  excellent  dates.  We  have  also 
here  trees  grown  from  the  seeds  of  excellent  Arabian 
and  Egyptian  fruits,  and  these  in  many  cases  yield 
fruits  of  the  most  inferior  kinds." 

Dr.  L.  Trabut,  botanist  of  the  government  of 
Algeria,  and  the  recognized  authority  on  North 
African  botany  and  horticulture,  in  written  statement 
given  to  me  at  Algiers,  May  23,  1913: 


56  DATE    GROWING 

"Theory  and  practice  show  that  fruits  grown 
from  seed  under  ordinary  conditions  do  not  come  true, 
because  of  the  cross  pollination  that  has  taken  place, 
usually  during  the  course  of  many  generations.  For 
this  reason,  date  seeds  selected  indiscriminately, 
even  though  they  be  from  fruit  of  one  variety,  can 
not  be  expected  to  reproduce  the  characteristics  of 
the  female  parent. 

"Theory  and  practice  also  show,  however,  that 
it  is  possible  to  breed  a  pure  variety  of  any  fruit,  so 
that  it  will  perpetuate  itself  by  seeds  and  each  genera- 
tion will  be  fairly  true  to  type.  This  has  been  done 
in  the  case  of  the  Reine  Claude  prune,  in  the  case  of 
Algerian  oranges,  in  various  grapes  and  elsewhere. 
It  is  not  a  work  that  can  be  accomplished  quickly, 
and  in  the  cases  mentioned  the  process  of  purifying 
the  strain  has  been  going  on  for  years,  perhaps 
centuries. 

"The  same  process  can  be  applied  to  dates.  If  a 
male  of  known  origin  is  selected,  and  then  a  female 
of  the  same  variety  pollinated  with  this,  the  process 
being  repeated  in  each  generation,  the  foreign  char- 
acteristics will  finally  be  bred  out,  and  the  race  will  be 
nearly  true  from  seed,  although  there  will  still  remain 
the  commercial  disadvantage  that  half  of  the  seedlings 
will  always  be  males. 

"When  such  a  pure  race  has  been  produced,  the 
production  of  seedling  dates  will  have  great  possibili- 
ties from  a  practical  viewpoint.  At  present,  however, 
with  seeds  taken  from  ordinary  dates  of  known 
variety  but  unknown  pedigree,  satisfactory  commercial 
results  can  not  be  expected." 


BAGHDAD    DATE    GROWER 

At  his  side  is  the  huge  chisel  used  for  detaching  offshoots;  in  his  hand  the 
sickle   for   cutting  their  leaves. 


PROPAGATION  BY 
OFFSHOOTS 


CHAPTER  IV 
PROPAGATION  BY  OFFSHOOTS 

Ordinarily  an  offshoot  is  ready  to  be  detached 
from  the  parent  palm  when  it  weighs  from  ten  to 
twenty  pounds;  it  will  then  be  from  two  to  four  yfears 
of  age.  Alone  of  orientals,  the  Egyptians  use  much 
larger  shoots,  sometimes  up  to  600  or  800  pounds  in 
weight.  Perhaps  the  explanation  of  this  is  that  the 
large  ones  are  the  only  ones  which  stand  high  enough 
to  avoid  being  drowned  out  during  the  annual  inun- 
dation of  the  Nile.  If  the  offshoots  are  to  be  shipped 
some  distance  it  will  still  be  advisable  to  pick  those 
of  from  ten  to  twenty  pounds,  or  even  a  little  larger, 
as  they  will  not  dry  out  so  rapidly,  but  if  they  are  to 
be  grown  at  home,  much  smaller  ones  may  be  success- 
fully rooted,  and  with  bottom  heat,  to  be  described 
later,  an  offshoot  that  weighs  only  a  pound  or  two  may 
make  as  good  a  growth  as  the  larger  ones.  Obviously 
one  saves  a  great  deal  of  space  by  the  use  of  such 
offshoots,  as  well  as  gaining  several  years  in  the  time 
of  the  offshoot  remaining  on  the  tree. 

For  shipping,  an  offshoot  with  thick,  short  base 
has  certain  advantages,  its  moisture  being  more 
readily  conserved;  but  if  the  shoot  is  to  be  planted  out 
at  once,  the  long  slender  type  is  perhaps  better, 
since  the  bud  is  then  higher  out  of  the  ground  and  in 
less  danger  of  damage. 

The  shoots  from  a  tree  which  has  had  plenty  of 
room,  a  sunny  location,  and  ample  nourishment  are 
to  be  preferred  on  account  of  their  superior  vigor.  Arabs 
carefully  avoid  those  from  a  tree  which  is  crowded  in 


60  DATE    GROWING 

among  others  and  surrounded  by  a  secondary  culture, 
particularly  if  that  be  fruit  trees,  and  their  dislike  to 
offshoots  grown  under  such  conditions  seems  to  be 
well  founded. 

They  also  make  it  a  point  to  choose  offshoots 
which  have  grown  from  the  ground  and  developed  a 
root  system  of  their  own,  but  experiments  in  California 
indicate  that  in  this  case  they  err.  Offshoots  which 
have  grown  on  the  side  of  the  tree,  several  feet  from 
the  ground,  and  are  quite  without  roots,  have  given  as 
good,  and  often  better,  results  when  planted.  If  roots 
are  formed  in  the  ground  by  an  offshoot  when  still 
attached  to  the  parent,  it  seems  that  they  do  not 
grow  after  the  shoot  is  detached,  but  that  an  entirely 
new  system  must  be  thrown  out. 

*  Most  offshoots  are  bent  or  curved,  but  readily 
straighten  out  when  planted.  Those  which  are  un- 
usually distorted  should  be  rejected. 

The  best  time  to  cut  and  plant  offshoots  is  a 
matter  of  dispute.  Of  course  the  operation  should 
not  be  carried  out  in  the  hottest  or  coldest  weather; 
and  if  they  are  to  be  planted  in  the  open  ground,  spring 
is  certainly  the  best  season.  In  California  May  or  early 
June  are  to  be  chosen.  But  fall  planting  gives  fairly 
good  results  in  most  climates,  and  in  Oman,  where 
the  winters  are  mild,  it  is  the  rule,  as  it  also  is  in 
India.  If  the  offshoots  are  to  be  rooted  with  bottom 
heat,  fall  is  a  desirable  time  for  work  in  America,  as 
shoots  will  be  rooted  during  the  winter  and  can  be 
set  in  the  ground  as  soon  as  it  gets  warmed  through 
in  spring,  thus  having  as  long  a  growing  season  as 
possible. 

To  detach  offshoots,  a  specially  made  tool  is 
desirable,  in  the  shape  of  a  large  and  heavy  chisel 


PROPAGATION  BY  OFFSHOOTS  61 

with  a  handle  two  feet  long  and  a  blade  at  least  three 
inches  wide.  It  should  be  kept  sharp.  A  curved  blade, 
like  that  of  a  big  gouge,  is  an  advantage.  Any  black- 
smith can  make  one.  Those  who  have  large  quantities 
of  offshoots  to  handle  should  have  a  series  of  such 
chisels  with  blades  of  varying  widths  from  two  to  four 
inches.  A  heavy  mallet  will  complete  the  equipment 
for  cutting  the  offshoots;  but  a  sharp  knife  or  sickle 
must  be  available  to  trim  off  the  leaves,  and  if  the 
offshoots  are  growing  from  the  ground,  a  shovel  and 
mattock  will  be  needed. 

The  leaves  of  the  offshoot  should  first  be  cut  back, 
to  make  the  work  easier;  then  the  dirt  around  its 
base  should  be  removed,  if  it  is  in  the  ground.  Two 
men  are  necessary  to  remove  an  offshoot  properly; 
one  of  them  bends  it  down  and  away  from  the  palm, 
while  the  other  cuts  it  loose  with  the  chisel.  There  is 
little  danger  of  cutting  too  deeply  into  the  palm,  but 
there  is  a  good  deal  of  danger  of  cutting  too  deeply 
into  the  offshoot;  therefore  the  chisel  should  be  driven 
well  in  and  the  shoot  brought  out  with  as  long  a  base 
as  possible.  An  offshoot  with  a  well-formed  butt  is 
often  found  to  be  attached  to  the  parent  only  by  a 
slender  ligature;  this  is  not  only  the  easiest  kind  to 
detach,  but  the  best  to  grow. 

After  the  operation,  the  incision  in  the  parent 
tree  should  be  painted  over  with  tar,  white  lead  or 
something  similar,  and  earth  piled  back  around  the 
base,  while  the  offshoot  is  placed  in  the  shade  to  dry  for 
a  few  days.  The  exact  length  of  time  will  be  deter- 
mined by  the  condition  of  the  ground  from  which  it 
was  taken,  but  there  is  little  danger  of  getting  it  too 
dry,  while  if  it  is  planted  when  too  full  of  moisture 


62  DATE    GROWING 

it  is  pretty  certain  to  ferment  when  it  is  placed  in  the 
ground. 

As  soon  as  taken  from  the  tree,  the  base  of  the 
offshoot  should  be  trimmed  up  with  a  chisel,  so  that 
the  cut  surface  will  be  clean  and  smooth,  and  when  dry 
it  should  be  painted  over  with  white  lead  (thinned 
with  linseed  oil)  or  asphaltum  roofing  paint,  or  better 
still,  a  mixture  made  as  follows : 

Take  two  pounds  of  linseed  oil  and  two  of  suet; 
boil  them  together  and  stir  in  three-quarters  of  a  pound 
of  red  oxide  of  lead. 

In  another  vessel  boil  two  pounds  of  rosin,  pow- 
dered, and  an  equal  quantity  of  ordinary  carbonate  of 
soda.  When  these  have  been  mixed,  pour  the  compound 
into  the  first  vessel,  containing  the  fatty  mixture,  and 
stir  them  thoroughly.  A  very  Large  pot  should  be  used, 
as  the  compound  boils  up  rapidly. 

Put  the  mixture  aside  to  cool;  if  it  is  thicker  than 
is  desired  a  little  denatured  alcohol  can  be  stirred  into 
it.  If  it  is  too  thick  when  wanted  for  use,  because  of 
cold  weather,  warm  it  slightly. 

Being  of  an  oily  or  fatty  nature,  it  is  absolutely 
waterproof,  while  the  rosin  makes  it  dry  very  rapidly 
without  soaking  into  the  fibres  of  the  tree. 

Dead  leaf  stalks,  long  roots  and  loose  fibre  should 
be  cleaned  off,  and  the  leaves  trimmed  back  to  a 
length  of  a  foot  or  less,  and  their  cut  ends  painted 
over  to  prevent  excessive  radiation  of  moisture  when 
planted;  the  shoot  is  then  ready  to  go  into  the  ground; 
but  if  it  is  to  be  shipped  some  further  precautions  are 
necessary.  In  the  first  place,  the  leaf  stalks  should  be 
firmly  wired  together,  to  prevent  any  possible  damage 
to  the  terminal  bud.  The  wire  is,  of  course,  removed 
when  they  are  planted.  Then  the  base  of  the  offshoot 
should  be  dipped  in  puddled  mud  and  surrounded  by 
sphagnum  moss  or  the  fibre  of  the  palm  itself.  The 
whole  base  of  the  offshoot  is  then  sewn  in  a  burlap 
jacket,  and  it  is  soaked  thoroughly.  Offshoots  are 


PROPAGATION  BY  OFFSHOOTS        63 

best  shipped  in  open  crates,  where  they  will  get  full 
ventilation;  otherwise  they  will  mould  on  the  road; 
they  should,  of  course,  .be  kept  away  from  engines 
and  other  sources  of  heat,  and  protected  from  rats. 
On  a  long  voyage  the  moisture  should  be  renewed  as 
necessary,  either  by  dipping  the  bases  of  the  shoots 
in  water  or,  if  it  cannot  be  done  otherwise,  merely 
by  turning  the  stream  of  a  hose  through  the  inter- 
stices of  the  crate,  (the  leaf  stalks,  wired  together,  will 
keep  water  from  reaching  the  terminal  bud.)  The  off- 
shoots should  be  kept  slightly  moist  throughout  their 
journey,  if  possible,  but  the  danger  from  too  much 
moisture  is  much  greater  than  that  from  too  little. 
The  great  peril  is  rotting.  Good  results  have  been  had, 
when  offshoots  were  brought  to  California  during  the 
summer,  by  letting  them  finish  their  journey  in  an 
iced  refrigerator  car,  at  a  temperature  of  50°  to  60°  F. 
They  arrive  firm  and  fresh,  but  should  be  dried  out 
carefully. 

Success  has  been  obtained  in  some  instances  when 
offshoots  were  shipped  dry,  packed  merely  in  straw, 
even  on  such  a  long  journey  as  from  Algeria  to 
California.  Nevertheless,  this  method  can  not  be 
recommended. 

Before  the  offshoot  is  planted,  it  should  be  dipped 
in  a  cresol  solution  (as  described  in  the  chapter  on 
diseases)  to  free  it  from  the  bacteria  of  decay.  When  a 
long  shipment  is  made,  it  would  be  better  if  the  off- 
shoot were  dipped  before  it  is  packed. 

The  present  requirement  in  the  United  States  is 
that  all  offshoots  shall  be  planted  in  nursery  rows  for 
the  first  year,  so  that  the  horticultural  quarantine 
authorities  can  keep  them  easily  under  control.  This 
method  has  some  advantages,  economizing  space, 


64  DATEQROWING 

water,  and  labor  in  cultivation  and  irrigation.  The 
Fardh  date  growers  of  Oman,  who  are  the  cleverest 
Arab  cultivators  I  have  seen,  habitually  follow  the 
same  practice.  Elsewhere  it  is  the  custom  to  plant 
offshoots  in  the  position  which  they  are  permanently 
to  occupy.  If  any  quantity  of  offshoots  is  to  be 
planted  I  recommend  the  plantation  in  nursery  rows, 
but  where  only  a  few  are  to  be  added  to  an  existing 
plantation,  or  the  gaps  in  the  latter  to  be  filled,  it  will 
be  an  advantage  to  put  the  offshoots  in  their  perma- 
nent locations  from  the  beginning,  where  quarantine 
restrictions  permit  one  to  do  so. 

Arabic  authorities  go  into  great  detail  on  the 
proper  method  of  planting  offshoots.  Faqir  Amin  al 
Madani  advises  that  a  hole  a  yard  square  and  equally 
deep  be  dug,  and  ashes  be  mixed  with  a  third  of  the 
dirt  removed,  which  is  then  put  back  in  the  excava- 
tion. The  shoot  is  planted,  and  one-third  more  of  the 
earth  put  upon  it.  After  it  begins  to  grow  the  remain- 
ing earth  is  added  in  light  layers  from  time  to  time. 
In  general  the  Arabs  never  use  manure  or  other 
fertilizer  in  planting  offshoots,  and  their  practice  is 
doubtless  correct,  unless  in  special  cases  where  the 
soil  is  lacking  in  some  element.  A  common  practice  is 
to  place  the  base  of  the  palm  on  a  handful  of  small 
stones:  it  is  thought  that  this  makes  the  roots  spread 
out  more  widely  and  draw  more  nourishment  from 
the  soil. 

The  shoot  should  be  planted  to  the  depth  of  its 
greatest  diameter,  or  a  little  deeper  in  case  it  is  long 
and  slender;  but  the  terminal  bud  must  always  be 
kept  high  and  dry,  for  if  water  gets  access  to  it  it  will 
be  scalded  or  rot.  The  bulb  of  the  offshoot  should  be 
set  perpendicularly;  if  the  stem  is  then  leaning,  it 


WRAPPING   OFFSHOOTS   FOR   SHIPMENT 

The  last  stage  of  packing  is  to  sew  the  palm  in  a  wrapper  of  burlap.     Pho- 
tograph made  at  Biskra,  Algeria. 


PROPAGATION  BY  OFFSHOOTS  65 

will  soon  straighten  up  when  it  begins  to  grow.  If 
planted  separately  the  offshoots  should  have  small 
basins  dug  around  them  to  receive  the  irrigating  water; 
if  in  rows,  a  furrow  on  each  side  will  serve  the  same 
purpose.  The  principle  to  be  borne  in  mind  at  all 
times  is  that  water  must  be  kept  away  from  the 
terminal  bud. 

A  new  method  of  planting  has  been  tried  at 
Sacaton,  Arizona,  with  success.  The  offshoots  are 
set  to  the  usual  depth,  and  then  well  wrapped  with 
burlap,  around  which  earth  is  piled  to  make  a  conical 
mound,  nearly  to  the  height  of  the  terminal  bud, 
which  is  protected  by  the  wrapping.  Water  is  then 
given  in  a  basin  of  ample  size  at  the  base.  The 
theory  underlying  this  innovation  is  that  the  mound  of 
dry  earth  around  the  stem  retains  the  heat  of  the 
sun  and  retards  the  lowering  of  temperature  of  the 
shoot  at  night. 

If  shoots  are  set  out  in  nursery  rows  they  should 
be  three  feet  apart,  at  least,  and  the  rows  four  or  five 
feet  apart.  If  in  permanent  form,  I  consider  that 
thirty-three  feet  apart  each  way,  or  forty  to  the  acre, 
is  ample  distance;  most  have  been  planted  in  the 
United  States  fifty  to  the  acre,  and  the  Arabs  often 
get  one  hundred  on  the  same  space  of  ground.  Even 
in  the  best  Arab  plantations,  they  are  rarely  planted 
more  than  twenty  feet  apart,  but  the  Arabs  recognize, 
in  theory  at  least,  that  this  is  a  shortsighted  policy. 
Faqir  Amin  says,  "  It  is  bad  for  each  palm  to  be  planted 
less  than  ten  meters  (about  thirty -three  feet)  from  the 
other,  and  it  has  been  proved  that  palms  closer  than 
this  yield  only  a  small  amount,  and  if  you  have  fifty 
palms  and  plant  them  far  apart  and  one  hundred 
palms  and  plant  them  closer,  the  fifty  will  yield  more 


66  DATE    GROWING 

than  the  one  hundred."  In  cases  where  it  is  desired 
to  grow  a  secondary  crop  permanently,  the  palms  may 
advantageously  be  set  still  farther  apart — for  alfalfa, 
twenty-six  to  the  acre  might  not  be  too  few. 

The  ground  should  be  thoroughly  soaked  several 
times  in  succession  before  the  shoots  are  planted, 
and  after  that  it  must  be  kept  constantly  and  evenly 
moist.  This  irrigation  of  offshoots  is,  indeed,  probably 
the  most  delicate  and  laborious  part  of  the  whole 
culture  of  the  date,  and  on  the  unremitting  care  given 
to  it  all  future  success  depends.  The  rootlets  of  the 
offshoots  are  extraordinarily  delicate,  and  if  they 
are  allowed  to  dry  out  even  once  during  the  hot  sum- 
mer, heavy  loss  will  result.  Their  delicacy  also  makes 
it  essential  to  avoid  giving  the  offshoot  any  shock 
which  may  break  them,  either  by  plow  or  animal 
when  cultivating,  or  by  shaking  the  top  of  the  palm 
to  see  whether  it  is  sound,  as  anxious  growers  some- 
times do. 

No  general  rule  can  be  laid  down  for  watering,  as 
it  depends  entirely  on  the  nature  of  the  soil.  While 
it  should  be  kept  moist,  it  must  not  be  kept  so  satur- 
ated as  to  prevent  the  air  from  getting  in.  In  the 
heavy  clay  of  Baghdad  one  watering  a  week  is  enough; 
in  the  light  sand  of  some  parts  of  the  Sahara  the 
shoot  is  watered  daily  for  the  first  forty  days,  after 
which  the  supply  is  very  slowly  tapered  off.  In 
Coachella  Valley  every  other  day  or  every  third  day 
will  ordinarily  suffice;  sometimes  it  works  well  to 
water  for  two  successive  days  and  give  none  on  the 
third.  The  soil  must  be  kept  in  a  good  state  of 
cultivation. 

It  is  customary  to  give  the  shoots  some  shade 
during  the  summer,  by  tying  old  palm  leaves,  corn 


PROPAGATION  BY  OFFSHOOTS  67 

stalks  or  something  of  that  nature  around  them,  but  it 
is  doubtful  whether  this  is  necessary.  In  winter, 
however,  they  must  have  some  protection  in  a  climate 
where  any  frost  is  to  be  expected,  as  the  young  and 
growing  offshoot  is  naturally  far  more  tender  than  the 
adult  palm.  Probably  the  best  and  simplest  shelter  is 
made  by  tying  a  piece  of  burlap  or  gunny-sacking 
loosely  around  it. 

Signs  of  growth  will  frequently  be  shown  in  two 
or  three  months  and,  if  the  shoots  are  planted  in 
spring,  half  of  them  should  give  evidence  of  vitality 
before  fall;  most  of  the  rest  will  come  into  growth 
during  the  following  spring  or  summer.  Sometimes 
an  offshoot  will  remain  entirely  lifeless  for  a  year  and 
a  half,  and  then  start  vigorous  growth.  There  is 
always  a  small  loss,  even  with  the  most  carefully 
selected  and  handled  shoots,  but  it  should  not  exceed 
five  or  ten  per  cent.  If  it  is  more  than  this  the 
blame  is  usually  due  to  the  cultivator  and  not  to  the 
offshoots.  Stands  as  high  as  ninety-eight  per  cent, 
have  been  secured  with  imported  offshoots  in  Cali- 
fornia; on  the  other  hand,  some  plantations  have  been 
practically  wiped  out  as  the  result  of  a  little  neglect 
on  the  part  of  their  owners.  The  Arab  gets  similar 
results,  according  to  the  care  he  uses,  but  as  he  is 
usually  negligent  he  does  not  ordinarily  get  more 
than  sixty  to  eighty  per  cent,  stand. 

If  properly  cared  for,  most  varieties  will  produce 
v  the  first  blossom  in  two  or  three  years.  Varieties 
differ :  Khadhrawi  is  one  of  the  earliest,  and  ordinarily 
produces  its  first  fruit  in  three  years,  even  under 
Arab  management,  while  Awaydi  seems,  with  the 
best  of  care,  unable  to  give  results  before  eight  or  ten 


68  DATE    GROWING 

years.     In  any  event,  it  is  a  great  mistake  to  let  a 
palm  bear  fruit  too  early. 

Offshoots  are  frequently  found  which  have  small 
offshoots  upon  them,  and  there  is  no  reason  for 
detaching  these  and  destroying  them,  unless  one  cares 
solely  for  fruit.  In  the  United  States,  the  production 
of  offshoots  from  the  best  varieties  promises  to  be 
fully  as  remunerative  in  the  immediate  future,  as 
the  production  of  fruit.  It  is  not  possible  to  get  a 
maximum  production  of  both  from  the  same  palm, 
but  most  growers  will  doubtless  prefer  to  keep  the 
fruit  yield  to  a  reasonable  limit  by  cutting  off  surplus 
blossoms,  in  order  that  they  may  secure  as  many 
offshoots  as  possible.  Offshoots  may  yield  a  few 
offshoots,  in  their  turn,  at  three  or  four  years  from 
planting,  and  at  from  five  to  fifteen  or  twenty  years  of 
age  they  should  yield  at  least  two  a  year,  although 
varieties  differ  in  offshoot  production.  From  an 
eight  year  old  Birket  al  Hajji  palm  at  Tempe,  Ariz., 
fifty-three  were  taken  at  one  cutting. 

The  Arabs  long  ago  discovered  that  if  all  the 
offshoots  were  taken  from  a  palm  it  would  produce 
no  more,  and  this  fact  has  been  confirmed  in  the 
United  States.  It  is  necessary,  then,  to  leave  one  or 
more  offshoots  on  the  tree  at  all  times,  so  that  it  may 
continue  to  produce,  and  if  this  is  done,  and  ample 
irrigation  and  fertilization  given,  the  palm  may 
continue  to  produce  offshoots  much  longer  than  is 
supposed — even  to  the  age  of  thirty  or  forty  years. 
In  a  damp  climate  it  seems  to  yield  more.  On  the 
coast  of  Southern  California,  where  fruit  does  not 
mature,  the  palm  yields  offshoots  much  more  abun- 
dantly than  it  does  in  the  hot  interior  valleys,  but  this 
is  doubtless  due,  in  part  at  least,  to  the  very  fact  that 


PROPAGATION   BY  OFFSHOOTS  69 

the  fruit  can  not  ripen,  and  therefore  the  palm  is 
allowed  to  devote  its  whole  energy  to  reproduction 
through  suckers. 

If  it  is  desired  to  get  as  many  offshoots  as  possible, 
the  grower  should  keep  the  leaves  on  all  of  them  cut 
well  back  while  they  are  still  on  the  parent  palm. 
The  energy  thus  saved  to  the  tree  will  be  used  to  grow 
more  offshoots. 

So  far  the  discussion  of  offshoots  has  assumed 
that  they  are  to  be  grown  in  the  open  ground,  but 
experiments  made  in  California  have  shown  that  the 
application  of  bottom  heat  will  give  higher  percentages 
of  success  and  much  quicker  results,  saving  from  three 
to  six  months  in  the  time  necessary  to  root  an  off- 
shoot. The  method  may  never  be  practicable  for 
handling  a  large  shipment  of  offshoots,  but  for  ordinary 
purposes  it  seems  likely  to  supplant  outdoor 
propagation  altogether. 

Credit  for  the  development  of  this  method  is  due 
to  Bruce  Drummond,  in  charge  of  the  U.  S.  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  Experiment  Station  at  Indio, 
Cal.  It  has  only  been  tried  for  one  season,  but  the 
results  have  been  almost  perfect. 

Offshoots  are  set  closely  together,  either  in  a  bed 
of  ordinary  sandy  loam  or  in  pots  of  the  same  material, 
over  a  coil  of  pipes  carrying  hot  water,  in  such  a  way 
that  the  soil  around  the  roots  is  kept  at  a  temperature 
of  from  100°  to  110°  F.  The  difference  will  be  realized 
when  it  is  known  that  the  soil  temperature  in  Coachella 
Valley  rarely  exceeds  80°  or  85°,  and  that  up  to  the 
middle  of  May  it  does  not  rise  above  55°.  The  heat  is 
kept  constant  night  and  day,  moisture  abundantly 
supplied,  and  within  a  month  or  two  the  offshoots 
usually  begin  to  grow;  roots  seven  inches  long  were 


70  DATE    GROWING 

found  on  one  after  only  five  weeks  in  the  bed.  When 
the  rooting  is  once  started,  it  is  probable  that  the 
temperature  could  be  increased  even  to  150  F.,  and 
the  growth  forced  still  more  rapidly.  As  soon  as  they 
are  well  rooted  they  can  be  transferred  to  the  open 
ground;  and  it  is  likely  that  four  batches  a  year  could 
be  run  through  the  plant  in  this  manner.  The  smallest 
offshoots  can  be  handled  successfully;  one  of  seven 
ounces  has  succeeded,  and  small  size  would  be  par- 
ticularly desirable  because  of  the  greater  economy 
in  pots.  It  has  been  found  in  actual  practice  that  a 
small  offshoot  produces  fruit  as  soon  as  a  large  one 
does,  in  most  instances. 

Mr.  Drummond  operates  in  a  greenhouse  with 
glass  roof,  but  considers  this  a  disadvantage  rather 
than  an  advantage,  as  it  keeps  the  top  temperature 
too  high,  and  tends  to  stimulate  leaf  growth  at  the 
expense  of  root  growth.  The  plant  could  best  be 
established  in  a  well  lighted  building  which  could  be 
easily  opened  to  a  free  circulation  of  air  when  desired; 
a  canvas  house,  or  a  lath  house  with  the  laths  set 
rather  closely  together,  would  do  well.  Such  a  plant 
is  in  reach  of  almost  any  cultivator,  for  a  second-hand 
boiler  and  pipe  are  quite  sufficient  to  carry  hot  water, 
It  can  be  very  cheaply  operated,  particularly  in  hot 
weather,  when  the  amount  of  fuel  needed  is 
ridiculously  small. 

The  discussion  of  offshoots  may  well  be  closed 
with  a  reference  to  the  means  of  identifying  them — 
a  question  which  always  interests  one  who  buys 
offshoots  from  a  foreign  country,  but  also  has  its 
practical  value  to  the  grower  in  handling  the  offshoots 
of  his  own  palms.  The  offshoots  of  all  varieties  differ 
from  each  other,  and  in  some  cases  the  characteristics 


PROPAGATION   BY  OFFSHOOTS  71 

are  so  marked  that  they  can  be  distinguished  at  a 
glance  by  anyone.  The  color  and  texture  of  the 
leaflets  and  the  angle  at  which  they  are  set  on  the 
midrib;  the  length,  thickness,  number  and  arrange- 
ment of  the  spines;  the  color  of  the  midrib;  and  the 
amount  and  arrangement  of  the  fibre  among  the 
stems,  are  the  principal  guides,  and  these  points  should 
all  be  noticed  by  one  who  wishes  to  fix  the  identity 
of  an  offshoot.*  There  is  no  reason  why  the  ordi- 
nary grower  should  not  learn  the  characteristics  of 
the  offshoots  of  all  his  palms,  unless  he  has  an 
unusually  large  number  of  varieties  on  his  plantation, 
and  he  will  thus  be  enabled,  in  handling  offshoots,  to 
avoid  any  confusion:  although  it  is  also  desirable  to 
fix  a  permanent  metal  label  to  them  as  they  are  cut 
from  the  parent  tree. 

One  who  buys  offshoots  among  the  Arabs 
follows  the  same  method,  but  if  the  offshoots  are  new 
to  him  he  must  at  first  depend  on  Arabs  for  the 
identification.  The  safest  way,  of  course,  is  to  see  the 
trees  in  fruit,  and  determine  the  characteristics  of  the 
offshoot  (and  the  palm  itself  as  well)  at  that  time. 
But  in  practice  he  is  not  likely  to  be  deceived,  if  he 
conscientiously  attends  to  his  work,  for  he  can  usually 
tell  a  strange  offshoot  in  a  bunch  which  is  supposed  to 
consist  of  one  variety,  even  though  he  may  not  be 
able  to  give  the  name  of  the  stranger — a  Tafazwin, 
for  instance,  in  a  row  of  Deglet  Nur  offshoots,  sticks 
out  like  a  sore  thumb. 

If  the  buyer  of  offshoots  in  an  Arab  country 
employs  as  his  field  agent  an  Arab  recommended  to 
him  by  some  responsible  European,  if  he  conscien- 

*Prof.  S.  C.  Mason  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  has  worked 
out  a  complete  system  for  identifying  adult  palms  in  this  way. 


72  DATE    GROWING 

.tiously  watches  the  offshoots  as  they  are  brought  in, 
and  if  he  calls  a  council  of  his  Arab  visitors  from  time 
to  time  and  asks  them  to  name  the  offshoots  they  see 
in  his  packing  yard,  he  has  little  chance  of  being 
defrauded.  As  for  the  substitution  of  male  for 
female  shoots,  a  trick  that  was  practiced  upon  the 
United  States  government  in  some  of  its  first  importa- 
tions, it  is  hardly  possible  in  the  present  state  of 
knowledge,  and  is  explainable  only  by  the  fact  that 
these  importations  were  secured  at  second  hand, 
through  consuls  and  others  who  had  no  idea  of  what 
a  date  palm  was.  The  male  offshoot,  by  its  vigorous 
growth  and  sturdy  aspect,  and  its  larger  number  of 
closely  packed  leaves,  is  almost  always  distinguishable 
even  to  the  beginner. 

Seedling  palms  have  also  been  sold  as  offshoots 
on  some  occasions,  but  it  is  hardly  conceivable  that 
a  careful  buyer  could  be  fooled  in  this  way,  for 
such  a  buyer  inspects  personally  the  base  of  every 
offshoot  as  it  is  brought  before  him,  throwing  out  all 
those  in  which  symptoms  of  decay  appear;  and  he  can 
see  at  a  glance  whether  the  plant  has  been  cut  from  a 
tree  or  grown  in  the  ground  from  a  seed.  I  have  never 
met  an  Arab  who  tried  to  foist  such  a  thing  on  me, 
and  I  doubt  if  they  would  try  it,  unless  they  found  a 
man  packing  offshoots  without  any  inspection.  The 
natives  of  India  appear  to  be  unusually  clever  at 
such  trickery.  Milne  says:* 

"Fraudulent  people  often  cut  a  piece  off  the  lower 
end  of  a  seedling  to  make  it  appear  like  an  offshoot. 
A  seedling  plant  usually  has  a  straight  stem,  however, 
while  that  of  an  offshoot  usually  has  a  slight  bend  at 

*Milne,  D.    "Date  Cultivation  in  the  Panjab,"  p.  11.    Lahore, 
1911. 


TRIMMING   OFFSHOOT  BASES 

All  inequalities  should  be  removed  from  the  cut  surface  of  the  butt  before 
it  is  painted  and  packed. 


PROPAGATION  BY  OFFSHOOTS  73 

its  base  where  it  curved  inwards  to  join  the  parent 
stem.  The  direction  of  the  cut  with  regard  to  the 
main  axis  of  the  plant  and  the  angle  at  which  it  cuts 
the  sap-conducting  vessels  of  the  wood  also  usually 
differ  in  the  two  cases.  In  the  case  of  an  offshoot  the 
cut  is  made  roughly  in  the  plane  of  the  main  axis 
of  the  plant,  and  owing  to  the  base  of  its  stem  bending 
toward  the  mother  the  cut  will  also  be  more  or  less 
at  right  angles  to  the  direction  of  the  vessels  at  that 
point.  In  the  seedling  if  the  cut  is  made  at  right 
angles  to  the  direction  of  the  vessels,  it  will  be  at 
right  angles  to  the  main  axis  of  the  plant,  and  if  it  is 
cut  in  a  plane  anywhere  approaching  that  of  the  main 
axis  of  the  plant  it  will  not  be  in  the  proper  direction 
with  regard  to  the  vessels,  and  the  cut  end  will 
probably  show  a  more  or  less  distinctive  outline." 

From  what  has  been  said  it  will  be  evident  that 
the  careful  buyer  need  be  in  little  fear  that  he  will  be 
swindled;  nor  is  the  problem  of  packing  and  shipping 
offshoots  a  serious  one.  It  calls  principally  for 
unremitting  attention.  The  actual  danger  begins 
after  the  offshoot  is  in  the  ground,  but  here  again  it 
is  not  one  that  need  alarm  any  except  the  ignorant  or 
negligent  grower,  and  if  offshoots  are  rooted  indoors, 
by  the  application  of  artificial  heat  to  the  soil,  the 
period  of  anxiety  will  be  much  shortened  and  the 
percentage  of  success  still  further  increased. 


PROPAGATION  BY  SEED 


CHAPTER  V 
PROPAGATION  BY  SEED 

There  is  no  detail  of  date  growing  in  which  the 
medieval  Arab  authors  give  such  play  to  their 
imagination  as  in  the  handling  of  seedlings,  and  this 
fact  strongly  indicates  that  the  growth  of  palms  from 
seed  was  more  a  theory  than  a  practice — that  seeds 
were  not  really  planted  often  enough  to  check  up 
and  explode  the  fantastic  ideas  of  the  writers.  In 
modern  literature  the  seed  is  absolutely  ignored  as  a 
means  of  propagation — such  authorities  as  Faqir 
Amin  al  Madani  do  not  even  allude  to  it,  the  offshoot 
being  considered  the  only  means  of  propagating  the 
palm  commercially.  When  a  seedling  palm  is  found 
in  an  Arab's  plantation,  one  may  be  sure  that  it 
merely  grew  by  accident. 

Ibn  A  warn*  thinks  success  depends  on  planting 
the  seed  horizontally,  not  vertically,  and  covering  it 
with  soil  mixed  with  manure  and  salt.  He  mentions 
with  evident  scepticism  the  declaration  of  Ibn  Hajjajf 
that  he  had  grown  seeds  in  soil  without  salt,  and 
declares  that  all  other  authorities  unanimously 

"The  Book  of  Agriculture  by  Shaykh  al  Fadhl  Abu  Zaharia 
Yahia  b.  Muhammad  b.  Ahmad  Ibn  al  A  warn  Ashbilf  (i.  e.,  a  native 
of  Seville,  Spain)  is  one  of  the  fullest  and  most  interesting  of  medieval 
treatises  on  horticulture.  It  seems  to  have  been  written  in  the 
twelfth  century,  A.  D.  It  was  first  published  in  1802  by  the  royal 
library  of  San  Lorenzo  del  Escorial,  Spain,  from  a  MS.  in  its  possession, 
with  a  rather  loose  translation  by  Don  Josef  Banqueri,  prior  of  the 
cathedral  of  Tortosa;  and  again  at  Paris  in  1864,  from  a  more  perfect 
MS.  hi  the  Bibliotheque  Nationale,  with  a  translation  by  J.  J. 
Clement-Mullet.  The  first  edition  is  in  two  vols.,  the  latter  in  three. 

t Abu  Umar  ibn  Haj jaj  wrote  Al  Mukna,  a  treatise  on  agriculture, 
in  1073  A.  D. 


78  DATE    OR  OWING 

contradict  him;  whereas  we  now  know  that  a  very 
small  amount  of  salt  is  sufficient  to  kill  seedlings,  for 
they  are  far  less  resistant  to  it  than  adult  palms.  Ibn 
Awam  indeed  quotes*  the  exact  proportion  for  the 
purpose:  four  pounds  of  common  salt  to  each  two 
baskets  of  mingled  earth  and  human  excrement — the 
basket  being  the  "qafiz"  of  Cordova. f  Mahrarius, 
again  quoted  by  him,  thinks  the  important  thing  is  to 
soak  the  seed  for  five  days  in  water,  and  then  plant  it 
with  the  ventral  channel  downward,  both  of  which 
ideas  are  fairly  sensible.  Saghrit  holds  that  failure  is 
due  to  the  temperament  of  the  planter.  "Beware," 
he  says,  "that  the  planting  is  not  done  by  a  mean 
person,  or  one  with  a  bad  mouth  and  melancholy 
humor.  He  should  have  an  aspect  of  happiness  and 
joy."  Other  writers  inform  us  that  it  is  of  no  use  for 
the  planter  to  simulate  joy  if  he  does  not  really  feel  it 
— the  seed  will  see  through  such  a  hollow  mockery  at 
once,  and  refuse  to  germinate.  The  phase  of  the  moon 
is  also  an  important  factor,  but  as  the  authorities  are 
far  from  agreeing  as  to  the  proper  phase  I  need  not 
quote  them.  If  the  germ-pore  is  planted  downward, 
it  is  considered  that  the  palm  will  be  a  male.  I  do 
not  advise  anyone  to  base  his  faith  in  seedling  dates 
on  this  idea,  or  on  the  similar  one  that  if  the  seeds  are 
dipped  in  boiling  water  before  planting,  a  larger 
percentage  of  them  will  be  female. 

QastusJ  says  the  seed  should  be  soaked  in  water 

*From  Abu  Abdullah  Muhammad  b.  Ibrahim  ibn  al  Fadhl, 
an  Andalusian  Moor  whose  treatise  on  agriculture  has  been  lost.  It 
was  written  in  the  eleventh  century. 

|I  suspect.  Ibn  Awam  has  made  a  mistake  here.  The  ordinary 
qaffz  is  a  mule  load,  while  the  qafiz  of  Cordova  is  only  forty-two  mudd 
or  double  handfuls,  and  two  pounds  of  salt  in  this  quantity  of  earth 
would  kill  any  seed. 

JQastus  b.  Luqa  al  Ri'imi,  The  Book  of  Greek  Agriculture,  ch.  75. 


PROPAGATION    BY    SEED  79 

for  two  days,  then  cut  in  halves  lengthwise  and  the 
two  halves  buried  side  by  side  in  the  earth  with  the 
cut  surface  downward  and  in  complete  contact  with 
the  earth,  the  apex  pointing  toward  the  east.  Pliny* 
believed  that  two  seeds  should  be  planted  side  by  side 
and  two  more  similarly  placed  on  top  of  them,  "for 
when  planted  singly,  the  tree  that  springs  up  is  but 
weak  and  sickly,  whereas  the  four  seeds  all  unite  to 
form  one  strong  tree/*  The  writers  realized  that  the 
seeds  did  not  reproduce  the  characteristics  of  the 
parent,  but  Ibn  Awam  declares  that  if  the  seeds  of 
these  seedlings  are  again  planted,  they  will  return  to 
the  exact  characteristics  of  the  original  parent — 
certainly  a  wonderful  case  of  atavism. 

Abd  al  Ghanit  lays  great  stress  on  planting  the 
seed  two  cubits  deep,  with  manure,  salt,  and  wine 
lees,  and  plenty  of  irrigation;  "especially  if  the  water 
remain  on  it  at  night  will  it  become  fat  and  hasten  to 
grow  and  laugh  with  delight  over  its  food,  and  its  face 
will  be  wreathed  in  smiles.  It  should  be  protected  with 
care  from  all  ill  treatment  and  watched  over  with 
anxious  solicitude,  being  properly  protected  during 
hot  weather;  it  should  also  be  thoroughly  cultivated, 
as  it  can  not  grow  well  if  other  plants  are  growing 
around  its  roots.  If  these  rules  are  observed,  the 
palm  will  grow  beautifully,  for  what  it  most  wants  is 
earth  and  manure  and  salt  on  it  and  water  at  proper 
intervals.'* 

The  ancients  usually  advise  that  the  seeds  should 
be  planted  where  the  palm  is  to  stand  permanently. 

*Caius  Plinius  Secundus,  llistoria  Naturalis,  Book  XIII,  ch.  7. 
Rome,  77  A.  D. 

fShaykh  Abd  al  Ghanf  al  Nabli,  The  Book  of  the  Use  of  Salt  in 
the  Science  of  Agriculture  (MS.  in  my  possession— no  date). 


80  DATE    GROWING 

It  appears  that  there  are  niceties  about  transplanting, 
too,  for  the  Book  of  Nabathean  Agriculture*  says 
success  in  this  operation  will  only  be  attained  if  the 
grower  has  a  lymphatic  and  lunar  temperament,  and 
his  body  is  in  normal  condition,  and  even  under  these 
circumstances  the  transplanting  would  be  an  absolute 
failure  should  it  be  attempted  on  the  second  day  of  the 
lunar  month.  "In  transplanting  he  should  be  gay 
and  joyous,  without  constraint,  his  face  wreathed  in 
smiles;  it  is  a  thing  which  we  have  proved  by  expe- 
rience and  can  recommend  as  being  well-founded," 
says  the  author. 

But  let  us  leave  the  dark  ages  and  get  down  to 
actual  facts. 

The  modern  grower  who  desires  to  propagate  by 
seed  will  first  of  all  select  his  seed,  if  it  is  possible  to  do 
so.  The  percentage  of  palms  which  come  true  will 
depend  on  the  extent  to  which  pollination  in  previous 
generations  has  been  made  by  a  male  of  the  same 
variety  as  the  parent.  In  the  case  of  most  commercial 
dates  it  is  impossible  to  say  what  the  male  parent  was, 
but  there  are  some  cases  in  which  the  chance  is  greater 
than  others.  Most  Algerian  dates,  including  Deglet 
Nur  from  that  region,  are  likely  to  have  been  pollinated 
by  a  male  which  grew  from  a  dry-date  seed,  since  the 
latter  class  of  dates  is  commonly  eaten  by  the  natives, 
who  throw  the  seeds  around,  where  one  may  strike 

"The  Book  of  Nabathean  Agriculture  is  one  of  the  most  famous 
productions  of  the  dark  ages,  in  this  field,  and  has  long  been  a  fertile 
subject  for  dispute  among  students.  It  purports  to  have  been  written 
in  Chaldean  by  one  Quthami,  and  to  have  been  translated  into  Arabic 
by  Ibnu-1  Wahshiyyeh  in  904  A.  D.f  but  scholars  now  consider  it 
to  be  a  forgery  of  which  Wahshiyyeh  was  the  actual  author,  rather 
than  the  translator.  The  MS.  (No.  175)  in  the  Bibliotheque  Nationale 
of  Algiers,  however,  bears  the  introductory  statement  that  it  was 
translated  from  Chaldean  into  Arabic  by  Abu  Bakr  Ahmad  b.  AH 
b.  Qars  al  Kusdani  al  Qalsi  in  the  year  291.  i.  e.,  903  A.  D. 


PROPAGATION    BY    SEED  81 

root  and  grow.  Therefore  seed  of  Algerian  Deglet 
Nurs  can  not  be  expected  to  produce  particularly 
favorable  results. 

The  Majhul  date  of  Tafilalet,  on  the  other  hand, 
seems  to  give  a  better  average  of  results,  and  this  is 
probably  because  it  and  varieties  similar  to  it  pre- 
ponderate in  certain  oases,  so  that  the  race  has  been 
unknowingly  kept  purer  than  usual.  The  same  thing 
has  taken  place  in  the  case  of  Deglet  Nur  in  some  of 
the  oases  of  Southern  Tunisia. 

Fardh  has  given  good  results  as  a  seedling.  It  is 
grown  only  in  one  valley,  where  two-thirds  of  the 
trees  are  of  that  variety;  therefore  there  is  an  excellent 
chance  that  the  male  may  have  been  a  Fardh  seedling. 

Asharasi  should  give  fairly  good  results,  since  the 
most  valued  male  in  the  districts  where  it  is  grown 
is  itself  a  seedling  Asharasi. 

But  better  still,  one  may  secure  from  the  Bureau 
of  Plant  Industry  seeds  of  Deglet  Nur  which  have  been 
inbred,  so  the  probability  of  their  coming  true  to  seed 
is  notably  better  than  those  of  the  ordinary  Deglet 
Nur  of  commerce.  As  the  breeding  process  goes  on, 
better  seeds  will  be  obtainable  every  few  years, 
although  it  will  be  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  any 
quantity  of  seeds  of  an  approximately  pure  race  can 
be  obtained. 

Having  secured  his  seed  the  grower  will  sort  it, 
throwing  out  small  ones,  and  then  soak  it  in  water  for 
a  week,  in  order  to  hasten  germination.  The  easiest 
way  to  do  this  is  to  place  the  seeds  in  a  sack  or  per- 
forated can  and  leave  it  in  an  irrigating  ditch.  They 
may  then  be  planted  in  any  ordinary  soil.  Spring  is, 


82  DATE    GROWING 

of  course,  the  proper  time  unless  one  expects  to  work 
under  glass  and  with  artificial  heat. 

The  soil  used  for  the  purpose  must  not  contain 
enough  alkali  to  injure  ordinary  crops,  and  it  will  be 
best  if  it  is  nearly  pure.  California  growers  should 
select  a  clean,  sandy  loam,  such  as  is  available  in 
many  parts  of  the  desert.  Several  methods  of  starting 
the  seed  have  been  found  successful,  and  the  one  to  be 
selected  will  depend  on  the  grower's  own  desire. 

Flats  or  shallow  boxes  offer  a  convenient  method 
of  beginning,  and  are  particularly  desirable  if  the 
grower  has  been  a  little  slow  in  getting  his  permanent 
location  ready.  They  may  be  transported  easily 
from  place  to  place,  and  save  a  great  deal  of  time, 
labor,  and  water  in  handling  the  seeds  during  the  first 
part  of  their  plant  life.  The  seeds  should  be  planted 
an  inch  or  two  deep  and  three  or  four  inches  apart, 
and  the  soil  kept  constantly  moist. 

Contrary  to  Arab  ideas,  it  really  makes  not  the 
slightest  difference  in  what  position  the  seed  is 
planted.  If  a  hole  is  punched  in  the  soil  with  the  end  of 
a  broomstick,  and  the  seed  dropped  in,  it  may  be 
covered  up  without  further  thought. 

Most  American  growers,  however,  have  planted 
their  seeds  in  rows  in  the  open  field.  Some  have  even 
planted  in  the  locations  where  the  palm  will  stand 
permanently — that  is  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  apart; 
but  this  requires  an  amount  of  labor  and  water  that 
the  ordinary  grower  will  feel  to  be  wasted.  On  the  other 
hand,  too  close  planting  is  to  be  avoided,  as  the 
palms  then  take  longer  to  come  into  flower,  and  one 
does  not  wish  to  care  for  a  lot  of  worthless  males 
any  longer  than  necessary. 

From  this  point  of  view,  the  best  planting  is 


PROPAGATION    BY    SEED  83 

probably  in  rows  seven  or  eight  feet  apart,  and  three 
or  four  feet  apart  in  the  row.  No  fertilizer  is  necessary 
unless  in  exceptional  cases,  *  but  irrigation  and  cultiva- 
tion should  not  be  stinted.  With  such  treatment,  palms 
have  been  known  to  bloom  as  early  as  one  year — 
only  one  rudimentary  blossom,  of  course,  but  it 
sufficed  to  determine  the  sex.  Frequently  they  bloom 
in  two  years,  and  should  usually  do  so  in  three,  with 
the  rest  of  the  palms  coming  into  flower  in  the  fourth 
or  fifth  year:  but  it  must  be  understood  that  this 
record  is  obtainable  only  with  the  best  of  care,  and 
when  the  palms  are  not  too  crowded  in  the  rows. 
Under  ordinary  circumstances,  and  with  most  seedling 
plantations,  five  to  eight  years  have  been  required  to 
determine  the  sex  of  the  palm. 

As  soon  as  the  sex  has  been  shown  by  a  flower 
the  males  can  be  dug  out  and  the  females  trans- 
planted to  their  permanent  positions.  To  effect  this 
removal  without  the  loss  that  has  sometimes  accom- 
panied it,  the  palms  should  be  given  no  irrigation  for 
three  weeks  before  transplanting.  When  taken  out  of 
the  ground  the  leaves  should  be  cut  back;  then  if 
they  are  put  in  the  orchard  and  given  plenty  of 
cultivation  and  irrigation  they  will  continue  to  grow 
without  any  check;  while  if  they  are  taken  from 
moist  rows  and  transplanted,  those  that  do  not  die 
often  suspend  growth  for  from  three  to  six  months. 
The  same  precaution  should  be  observed  in  trans- 
planting seedlings  from  flats,  and  in  transplanting 
offshoots  from  the  hot  bed  or  nursery  row  to  their 
field  location. 

If  the  seedling  palms  are  to  be  maintained  as  a 

*A  little  lime  sometimes  seems  to  improve  the  soils  of  Coachella 
Valley,  but  it  should  be  used  sparingly  and  with  discretion. 


84  DATE    GROWING 

windbreak,  they  may  be  sown  in  the  proper  line, 
five  or  six  feet  apart,  and  left  there  permanently,  for 
there  will  be  no  need  of  removing  the  males  in  this 
case. 

The  percentage  of  males  varies  around  one-half. 
James  P.  Read,  of  Mecca,  found  that  sixty  per  cent  of 
his  Deglet  Nur  seedlings  were  males.  The  Majhul 
seeds  have  given  a  surprisingly  high  percentage  of 
females,  but  as  the  number  reported  on  so  far  has 
not  been  large,  this  may  be  merely  a  coincidence 
which  further  plantings  will  destroy.  The  grower 
must,  in  general,  expect  that  something  less  than  half 
of  his  palms  will  be  females. 

The  grower  will  naturally  wish  to  save  a  certain 
number  of  male  palms  for  his  own  use;  if  they  are 
seedlings,  he  should  have  five  or  six  to  each  hundred 
females.  The  easiest  and  surest  way  to  insure  an 
abundance  of  pollen  is  to  plant  a  windbreak,  as 
described,  and  let  all  the  males  in  it  grow;  in  the 
number  there  is  certain  to  be  one  or  more  that  will 
give  satisfaction.  If  the  planter  wishes  to  save  only 
a  few  males,  he  should  select  such  as  seem  to  flower 
most  profusely;  but  he  can  never  be  certain  of  good 
results,  for  seedling  males  are  no  more  reliable  than 
seedling  females,  and  I  am  confident  that  most  of 
the  males  in  use  in  the  future,  in  an  intelligent  date 
growing  community,  will  be  propagated  by  offshoots 
from  a  father  of  known  value. 

Having  satisfactorily  disposed  of  his  surplus 
males,  the  seedling  grower  will  then  consider  his 
females,  and  will  probably  plant  them  all  in  orchard 
form  at  first,  leaving  the  elimination  of  worthless 
ones  until  they  bear  enough  fruit  to  give  a  fair  test 
of  their  character.  This  is  the  more  desirable 


PROPAGATION    BY    SEED  85 

because  a  palm  grown  from  seed  sometimes  bears 
bad  fruit  during  the  first  few  years  and  afterwards 
improves  in  quality — a  characteristic  that  applies 
also  to  a  few  varieties  of  offshoot-propagated  palms, 
and  particularly  to  Manakhir  in  the  United  States. 
As  rapidly  as  he  decides  that  a  palm  has  no  merit,  he 
will  throw  it  out  and  put  in  its  place  an  offshoot  from 
one  of  his  better  females;  and  this  process  he  will 
have  to  continue  indefinitely,  if  he  wishes  ever  to  get 
a  really  valuable  commercial  plantation.  So  when  the 
seedling  grower  finally  gets  a  good  grove  of  palms, 
he  will  have  to  admit  that  it  is  not  really  a  seedling 
grove,  but  preponderatingly  an  offshoot  grove. 

It  is  difficult  to  quote  any  figures  as  to  the 
percentage  of  good  seedlings  in  one  hundred  female 
trees,  for  the  number  will  vary  according  to  condi- 
tions, and  no  figures  quoted  are  safe  from  attack  by 
someone  who  can  show  that  in  his  own  experience  they 
are  inaccurate.  Most  students*  consider  that  one- 
tenth  of  the  females  will  bear  fairly  good  fruit  and 
another  tenth  passable  fruit:  that  is,  from  one 
hundred  seeds  (including  males)  one  would  get  ten 
females  which  would  produce  eatable  dates.  In 
favored  localities  the  number  would  be  a  little  higher, 
but  the  commercial  disadvantage  always  remains  that 
even  the  good  dates  are  too  varied  to  be  graded  and 
packed  as  a  uniform  product,  and  therefore  can  not 
command  the  top  market  price.  For  home  use, 
where  it  makes  no  difference  whether  the  dates  are 
uniform  or  not,  seedling  fruit  may  be  quite  as  good 
as  that  grown  from  offshoots. 

There  remains  always  the  attractive  possibility 
that  the  seedling  grower  will  draw  a  capital  prize — 

*e.  g.,  Swingle  and  Milne. 


86  DATE    GROWING 

that  he  will  produce  a  palm  a  little  better  than  any- 
thing else.  The  chance  is  too  good  to  neglect,  and 
every  date  grower  should  have  as  many  seedlings 
as  he  can  care  for  without  detriment  to  his  profits, 
but  a  slight  consideration  will  show  that  the  chance  is, 
arithmetically,  not  very  great.  It  is  true  that  all 
the  varieties  in  the  world  have  been  produced  from 
seeds,  but  the  small  number  of  high  grade  varieties, 
which  is  most  noticeable  in  the  very  districts  where 
propagation  is  by  seed  instead  of  offshoots,  shows 
that  such  an  occurrence  is  rare.  It  is  only  once  in  a 
century  that  a  Deglet  Nur,  a  Khalaseh,  a  Tabirzal,  or 
a  Birket  alHajji  appears;  and  although  some  choice 
seedlings  have  already  been  produced  in  the  south- 
western United  States,  an  honest  examination  of  them 
will  show  that  they  are  no  better  than,  and  in  most 
cases  inferior  to,  good  varieties  which  we  have  already 
imported  from  the  Arab  world. 

The  greatest  opportunity  of  the  seedling  grower 
lies  in  the  rapid  production  and  propagation  of 
offshoots.  If  from  a  thousand  palms  he  gets  a  few 
that  are  of  good  quality  and  reasonably  uniform,  he 
can,  after  they  have  proved  their  value  by  one  good 
crop,  force  them  to  devote  their  whole  energy  to  the 
production  of  offshoots,  which  he  will  remove  while 
still  small,  and  root  with  bottom  heat.  These  in  turn 
will  produce  offshoots  in  four  or  five  years,  and  the 
multiplication  of  the  variety,  or  the  similar  varieties, 
will  then  go  forward  with  some  speed.  Such  work 
offers  a  legitimate  field,  but  it  is  of  necessity  one  that 
will  attract  the  nurseryman  more  than  the  grower 
whose  aim  is  to  acquire,  as  soon  as  possible,  a  plant- 
ation of  dates  that  will  yield  him  a  steady  income. 


CULTURE  OF  THE  PALM 


CHAPTER  VI 
CULTURE  OF  THE  PALM 

Irrigation  is  the  principal  item  in  the  culture 
of  the  date  palm.  For  Arabs  it  is  practically  the  only 
item,  for  in  most  gardens  the  palms  get  no  cultivation 
whatever,  unless  incidentally  through  the  presence  of 
a  secondary  crop,  or,  once  in  a  year  or  two,  when  a 
little  manure  is  worked  around  the  roots.  It  is  there- 
fore irrigation  that  the  scientific  date  planter  must 
first  of  all  consider,  and  to  which  he  must  constantly 
give  his  attention. 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  a  water  supply  of 
one  miner's  inch  to  the  acre  is  desirable  except  on 
land  which  holds  water  particularly  well,  but  there  is 
some  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  way  in  which  this 
should  be  applied,  and  every  grower  will  have  to 
decide  for  himself  by  watching  the  condition  of  the 
ground.  One  plantation,  on  very  sandy  soil  in 
Coachella  Valley,  gets  twenty -four  hours  of  irrigation 
twice  a  week  and  thrives  on  it;  another,  in  loam,  gets 
water  only  once  in  eight  or  ten  days  and  seems  to 
be  in  equally  good  condition.  As  most  date  growing 
countries  are  characterized  by  a  relative  scarcity  of 
water,  the  grower  may  naturally  like  to  give  more  than 
is  necessary,  but  I  may  say  at  the  outset  that  it  is 
easy  to  give  too  little,  but  almost  impossible  to  give 
too  much.  It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the 
plantations  of  Busreh  are  irrigated  every  twelve 
hours.  The  experimental  garden  at  Tempe,  Ariz., 
is  in  a  locality  where  the  level  of  the  ground  water 
is  near  the  surface,  and  often  above,  but  the  palms 


90  DATE    GROWING 

have  never  given  any  signs  of  a  surfeit  in  their  growth, 
although  excess  of  water  has  a  very  bad  effect  on  the 
crop  itself. 

On  the  other  hand,  cultivation  will  take  the  place 
of  irrigation  to  some  extent,  by  keeping  the  water 
in  the  soil  after  it  is  once  put  there.  The  Arab 
neglects  this  because  of  his  indolence,  but  the  scientific 
grower  can  not  afford  to  do  so.  As  with  irrigation, 
there  is  no  danger  of  giving  too  much  cultivation, 
but  there  is  danger  of  giving  too  little. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  advice  that  will  fit  all 
conditions,  but  I  believe  that  on  ordinarily  good  soil 
a  thorough  irrigation  once  a  week,  followed  by 
cultivation  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  dry  enough  to 
work,  would  be  ideal  throughout  the  summer.  In 
lighter  soil,  unless  the  subsoil  be  of  such  a  nature  as 
to  retain  water  well,  I  would  certainly  irrigate  oftener. 
In  winter  the  interval  can  be  lengthened,  particularly 
as  most  palms  lie  nearly  dormant  for  some  time,  and 
advantage  can  often  be  taken  of  timely  rains.  It 
has  sometimes  been  advised  that  irrigation  should 
be  suspended  during  the  winter  because  it  would  tend 
to  make  the  palms  more  sensitive  to  frost,  but  obser- 
vations in  California  following  the  cold  weather  of 
January,  1913,  indicate  that  this  theory  has  little 
importance  in  practice.  If  irrigated  well  in  late 
winter,  palms  will  flower  earlier,  and  thus  fruit  earlier 
— an  advantage  well  worth  gaining. 

Americans  usually  suspend  irrigation  for  a  few 
weeks  while  palms  are  being  pollinated,  on  the  ground 
that  a  better  stand  of  fruit  will  be  secured,  because 
moisture  will  cause  the  blossoms  to  drop  before  they 
set.  In  theory  this  seems  plausible,  but  in  practice 
it  will  be  found  that  most  Arab  growers  do  not  observe 


CULTURE    OF    THE    PALM  91 

it,  and  they  suffer  no  inconvenience.  At  Baghdad 
the  period  of  flowering  is  frequently  the  period  of 
inundation  from  the  Tigris,  when  plantations  are 
submerged  to  the  depth  of  a  foot  or  two  for  several 
weeks;  and  the  growers  nevertheless  get  a  heavy 
crop  of  fruit.  It  may  be  a  safe  precaution  to  omit 
one  irrigation  immediately  after  the  female  has  been 
impregnated,  but  in  a  dry  climate  and  porous  soil 
I  doubt  if  it  has  any  advantage. 

It  has  also  been  advised  to  suspend  irrigation 
when  the  dates  are  nearly  ripe,  in  order  to  keep  them 
from  becoming  soft  and  sticky.  This  again  sounds 
reasonable,  and  for  some  varieties  is  desirable,  but 
other  varieties  demand  an  increase  rather  than  a 
decrease  of  water  at  this  period.  In  Coachella  Valley, 
for  instance,  Deglet  Nur  dates  show  a  tendency  to 
shrivel  or  mummify  toward  the  end  of  their  ripening 
on  the  tree,  just  at  the  time  when  they  should  be 
filling  with  honey.  The  climate  appears  really  to  be 
too  dry  for  them.  This  tendency,  which  has  sometimes 
caused  serious  loss,  can  be  checked  by  giving  copious 
irrigation  right  up  to  the  time  the  dates  are  taken 
from  the  tree.  With  varieties  which  are  likely  to  be 
unpleasantly  soft,  irrigation  at  the  last  might  well 
be  withheld.  The  character  of  the  soil  must  also  be 
taken  into  consideration.  In  short,  the  grower's 
own  judgment  and  experience  are  essential  to  decide 
on  this  point,  but  in  general  it  offers  little  trouble, 
and  is  not  of  importance. 

It  will  be  seen,  then,  that  irrigation  and  cultiva- 
tion offer  no  puzzling  problems.  The  grower  who  gives 
his  palms  plenty  of  both  will  have  little  need  to  worry 
about  details. 

Nor  does  the  fertilization  of  the  land  present 


92  DATE    GROWING 

many  questions;  or  If  it  does,  the  present  state  of  our 
knowledge  is  not  sufficiently  advanced  to  permit  us 
to  know  it.  The  future  may  hold  some  important 
discoveries,  but  at  present  both  theory  and  practice 
may  almost  be  summed  up  in  two  words, — "stable 
manure."  This  is  because  the  soil  in  most  date  grow- 
ing regions  is  more  deficient  in  humus  than  in  any- 
thing else,  and  because  chemical  fertilizers  are  so  quick- 
ly washed  out  of  the  land  by  the  constant  irrigation 
that  they  hardly  have  a  chance  to  return  interest  on 
the  investment  their  cost  represents. 

The  Fardh  growers  of  Oman  are  again  most 
advanced  among  Arabs  in  this  respect,  for  they  work 
into  the  soil  a  donkey  load  per  tree  of  well-rotted 
manure  and  straw  twice  a  year.  In  other  oriental  com- 
munities once  a  year  is  considered  liberal,  and  at  Busreh 
once  in  two  years  is  the  rule,  and  even  then  the  in- 
gredient is  the  coarsest  kind  of  straw  and  reeds, 
animals  being  scarce.  The  general  practice  is  to  apply 
manure  at  the  beginning  of  winter,  so  that  it  has  a 
chance  to  rot  thoroughly  and  become  incorporated 
with  the  soil  before  the  growing  period  in  spring;  but 
if  it  is  well  rotted  before  it  is  applied,  early  spring 
would  probably  be  better,  as  there  would  be  less  loss 
from  leaching.  It  should  be  well  worked  into  the  soil. 

If  a  grower  knows  that  his  soil  is  lacking  in  any 
particular  element,  he  should  of  course  supply  the 
deficiency,  as  he  would  with  any  other  crop.  Other- 
wise he  may  as  well  depend  on  stable  manure,  or  some 
other  form  of  humus.  The  leaf  mould  found  under 
mesquite  bushes  in  the  southwestern  United  States 
is  excellent,  and  far  too  valuable  to  be  wasted  by 
burning,  as  is  often  done  when  a  new  piece  of  land  is 
cleared.  So  far  as  I  know,  inoculation  of  the  soil  with 


CULTURE    OF    THE    PALM  93 

bacteria,  to  increase  the  nitrogen  supply,  has  never 
been  tried  with  this  culture,  but  it  would  be  well 
worth  trying.  If  a  secondary  crop  is  to  be  grown, 
alfalfa  or  some  leguminous  plant  should  be  given  the 
preference  for  this  same  reason. 

When  a  subsidiary  crop  is  grown  between  the 
rows,  the  nutrition  which  it  takes  from  the  soil  must 
be  replaced  unless  the  palms  are  to  suffer.  Ordinarily 
it  will  be  sufficient  to  plow  the  crop  under  after  it 
has  yielded  its  produce. 

The  Arabs  have  some  excessively  fastidious  ideas 
about  fertilizers,  which  can  not  be  accepted  until  they 
have  been  scientifically  tested.  Camel  manure  is 
looked  on  in  Algeria  with  disfavor,  as  being  "too  hot." 
That  of  mules  and  donkeys  is  given  the  preference, 
but  that  of  cows  and  horses  is  also  considered  good. 
Ibn  Awam  says  that  the  excrement  of  pigs  burns  the 
roots  of  the  palm;  he  also  suggests  that  the  roots 
should  be  irrigated  with  date  syrup  in  order  to  make 
the  fruit  sweet!  Wine  lees  are  in  high  repute  among 
the  old  masters,  as  a  fertilizer.  Faqir  Amin  al  Madani 
is,  as  usual,  original  in  his  remarks: 

"And  you  must  fertilize  the  palm,  for  that  is  the 
best  thing  to  increase  its  yield.  Cow  manure  or  that 
of  camels  is  best,  spread  under  it  in  winter,  but  any 
good  manure,  well  rotted,  will  prove  efficacious  if 
applied  in  winter.  But  an  easier  method  to  make  it 
more  verdant  is,  in  the  summer  days,  to  gather  all 
the  fallen  fruit  and  that  bruised  by  feet  or  spoiled  by 
the  birds,  and  to  put  a  little  water  on  it  and  let  it 
rot  and  save  it  for  winter;  then  pour  on  each  palm 
a  portion  of  three  pounds  of  this  liquor,  and  in  this 
manner  there  will  be  no  expense  to  you,  because  the 
fallen  fruit  would  have  been  a  loss  to  you  in  any  case." 


94  DATE    GROWING 

All  the  medieval  writers  consider  that  the  palm 
should  be  irrigated  occasionally  with  brine.  There  is 
no  evidence,  however,  to  show  that  it  benefits  from 
such  treatment. 

Many  of  the  talismans  and  charms  by  which  the 
growers  of  antiquity  professed  to  influence  the  palm 
are  nothing  more  than  a  crude  sort  of  fertilization. 
Ibn  Awam,  for  instance,  says,  "There  is  a  prodigious 
secret  of  marvelous  virtue,  which  is  to  take  fourteen 
pounds  of  the  aromatic  rush  of  Babylon,  dig  a  hole 
in  the  ground  and  bury  it;  after  twenty-one  days  dig 
it  up  and  spread  it  on  the  trees"  (to  increase  their 
yield.)  "It  must  be  done  in  the  sign  of  Taurus  or  of 
Cancer;  I  myself  have  tried  it  with  notable  success." 
Obviously  this  is  nothing  more  than  adding  a  little 
humus  to  the  soil.  Again  he  says,  "  If  your  trees  bear 
intermittently,  dig  a  trench  around  them  at  two  cubits 
distance  and  put  palm  leaves  and  branches  in  it; 
wet  them  five  times  at  intervals  of  five  or  six  days, 
after  which,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  the  tree  will  bear." 

This  intermittent  bearing  of  the  palm  is  a  factor 
with  which  every  grower  must  reckon.  In  light  sandy 
soil,  lacking  in  humus,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  get  a 
palm  to  bear  a  uniformly  heavy  crop  each  year; 
old  palms  always  show  a  tendency  to  rest  every  other- 
year;  while  young  ones  in  full  vigor  will  require  an 
entire  season  to  recuperate  if  they  are  allowed  to 
bear  too  heavily.  A  grower  who  gets  a  new  palm  into 
bearing,  particularly  if  it  be  of  a  valuable  variety, 
naturally  wants  as  much  fruit  as  possible,  so  he  lets 
it  bear  a  maximum  crop,  with  the  result  that  he  has 
nothing  at  all  the  following  season.  The  palm  must 
be  brought  into  bearing  gradually:  one  bunch  the 
first  year,  two  or  three  the  second,  three  or  four  the 


CULTURE    OF    THE    PALM  95 

third,  and  so  on.  Even  after  it  reaches  maturity  it 
should  ordinarily  not  be  allowed  to  carry  more  than 
half  of  the  clusters  which  it  throws  out.  Of  course,  if 
the  variety  is  naturally  a  shy  bearer,  and  sends  forth 
but  a  few  racemes,  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  remove 
any,  but  where  twenty  or  twenty-five  are  put  out,  as 
is  sometimes  the  case,  ten  or  twelve  are  enough  to 
leave.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  point  out  that  if  a 
palm  is  carrying  offshoots  it  must  carry  fewer  dates. 
In  the  case  of  a  valuable  variety,  from  which  it  is 
desired  to  get  as  many  offshoots  as  possible,  it  will 
often  be  well  to  let  it  bear  only  one  or  two  bunches  of 
fruit  each  season;  the  value  of  the  offshoots  will 
more  than  compensate  for  the  dates  lost.  On  the 
other  hand,  a  second-grade  tree  which  there  is  no 
reason  to  perpetuate  should  be  stripped  of  offshoots 
altogether;  it  will  then  be  able  to  put  every  ounce  of 
its  energy  into  the  production  of  dates.  Unless  you 
have  had  enough  experience  to  be  certain  of  your 
success,  leave  a  fairly  large  number  of  clusters  until 
after  you  have  pollinated  and  have  had  a  chance  to 
observe  the  results;  some  clusters  usually  set  less 
dates  than  others  and  these  can  be  removed,  leaving 
only  first-class  clusters  on  the  tree. 

If  the  number  of  clusters  borne  each  year  is  kept 
to  a  reasonable  limit,  and  the  palm  given  abundant 
irrigation,  cultivation,  and  fertilization,  no  one  need 
fear  this  intermittent  bearing  or  alternation  of  years. 
It  has  been  thoroughly  proved  in  California  that 
good  care  is  the  only  thing  needed  to  make  the  palm 
perform  satisfactorily  each  season. 

As  dates  are  ordinarily  grown  in  a  semi-arid 
climate,  there  is  little  trouble  from  the  weather.  An 
unexpected  rain  in  early  summer  will  do  little  harm; 


96  DATE    GROWING 

if  it  comes  when  the  dates  are  ripening  it  may  make 
trouble,  but  experience  in  Coachella  Valley  last  year, 
when  a  September  storm  brought  a  precipitation  of 
one  and  one-half  inches,  proved  that  most  of  the 
fears  which  have  been  entertained  on  this  score  are 
groundless — the  total  loss  to  the  crop  probably  did 
not  exceed  five  per  cent.  Of  course,  if  rain  should  be 
followed  by  a  period  of  moist  days  it  would  be  more 
serious.  This  rarely  occurs  in  a  desert  country; 
should  it  do  so  when  the  dates  were  ripening,  the  only 
recourse  would  be  to  pick  the  crop  at  once  and  finish 
its  ripening  artificially  by  the  quick  process.  For 
this  reason,  every  grower  should  have  the  means  of 
carrying  out  this  process. 

Sometimes  fruit  falls  prematurely  from  the  palm 
as  a  result  of  bad  weather;  at  other  times  it  falls 
with  no  apparent  reason.  The  trouble  seems  to  be 
a  question  of  variety,  and  few  of  the  good  varieties 
annoy  one  in  this  way.  If  they  do,  and  you  are 
enlightened,  you  will  hunt  through  the  plantation  for 
a  crab's  leg,  which  some  enemy  may  have  tied  to  one 
of  your  palms;  it  is  well  known  that  this  causes  the 
fruit  to  fall,  and  to  prevent  such  a  catastrophe 
intelligent  growers  usually  have  a  sheep's  skull  set 
on  a  pole  in  their  plantations:  it  is  a  sure  charm  and 
counter-irritant  or  antidote.  Should  even  this  fail, 
the  only  orthodox  recourse  is  to  hang  on  each  of  your 
palms  a  slip  of  paper  bearing  the  verse,*  "He  holds 
up  the  heavens  to  keep  them  from  falling  on  the  earth 
unless  as  a  result  of  His  will,  because  God  is  merciful 
and  compassionate  toward  men."  Few  palms  can 
withstand  the  influence  of  such  a  thought  as  that. 
"Koran,  XXII,  64. 


PROTECTION  FOR  OFFSHOOTS 

The  plant  is  surrounded  by  palm  leaves,  to  keep  off  frost,  in  an  exposed 
situation   at  Busreh,   Turkish   Arabia. 


CULTURE    OF    THE    PALM  97 

A  frost  when  the  fruit  was  ripening  or  the  flowers 
being  pollinated  might  be  disastrous,  but  such  a  thing 
is  impossible  in  most  date  growing  countries,  and  frost 
in  winter  is  not  serious  enough  to  give  any  concern. 
Young  trees  should  always  be  protected,  but  it  is 
entirely  needless  to  consider  heating  a  palm  garden, 
as  orange  growers  do  their  groves.  The  Arab  grower, 
when  threatened  by  frost,  places  a  tortoise  on  his 
back  in  the  middle  of  the  grove,  and  thus  avoids  all 
danger;  but  of  course  a  man  must  stay  beside  him 
throughout  the  night,  for  if  the  tortoise  should  succeed 
in  turning  over  on  his  belly  and  walking  away,  the 
frost  would  immediately  descend  in  full  force. 

There  is  danger  from  wind,  however,  in  most 
date-growing  regions,  and  it  is  highly  necessary 
that  ample  windbreaks  should  be  planted,  particularly 
for  the  protection  of  young  palms.  If  one  is  in  a 
sandy  region,  he  could  well  afford  to  plant  numerous 
windbreaks  through  his  orchard,*  of  a  sufficiently 
dense  nature  to  stop  sand  when  it  is  blown  through 
the  air;  otherwise  a  sandstorm,  arriving  when  the 
dates  are  soft  and  sticky,  may  make  the  crop  almost 
unsaleable.  This  difficulty  is  frequently  experienced 
in  the  Persian  Gulf  region,  where  a  whole  crop  is  some- 
times nearly  a  loss;  and  the  dates  of  Hasa  are  al- 
ways and  notoriously  gritty. 

The  palm  must  be  trimmed  regularly,  but  it  is 
better  not  to  do  this  until  it  is  four  or  five  years  old. 
After  that  the  leaves  that  are  actually  dead  or  dying 
should  be  taken  .off  each  year,  and  the  trunk  cleaned 
up  of  fibre  and  other  decaying  matter  which  offers  a 
refuge  for  borers.  There  is  danger  in  trimming  too 

*A  row  of  seedling  dates,  reinforced  by  a  row  of  pomegranates, 
would  be  excellent.  The  latter  fruit  is  well  adapted  to  resisting  heat, 
drought,  and  alkali. 


98  DATE    GH  OWING 

heavily,  but  not  in  the  other  extreme.  The  growers  of 
Egypt  cut  off  as  many  leaves  as  possible  from  their 
palms  because  they  find  a  ready  sale  for  use  in  Chris- 
tian and  Jewish  church  festivals,  and  they  thereby 
injure  the  productivity  of  their  palms,  a  fact  which 
residents  of  other  regions  do  not  hesitate  to  taunt 
them  with.  "It  is,"  says  Faqir  Amin,  "as  if  a  man 
should  shave  his  head,  and  then  take  off  the  scalp  as 
well — what  would  be  his  condition?  And  what 
would  his  mother  and  brother  say  to  him?"  In 
adult  palms  one  complete  ring  of  ten  to  fifteen  leaves 
can  ordinarily  be  removed  each  year;  they  are  useful 
as  a  frost  protection  for  offshoots,  or  a  shade  in 
summer  if  such  is  desired.  In  Arab  communities 
both  leaves  and  fibre  have  a  commercial  value  and 
are  made  into  a  great  variety  of  products,  the  fibre 
furnishing  cordage,  stuffing  for  pack  saddles,  and  the 
like,  while  the  leaflets  make  baskets,  and  the  midribs 
all  kinds  of  furniture. 

In  general,  it  may  be  said  that  the  culture  of  the 
palm  requires  less  pains  and  less  skill  and  study  than 
that  of  most  fruits,  and  that  the  expense  of  growing  it 
is  correspondingly  less.  Pollination  is  the  only 
delicate  operation  to  be  performed,  and  that  is  easily 
learned.  This  is  a  case  where  the  value  of  a  supply  of 
seedling  trees  on  which  to  practice  will  be  evident. 
Apart  from  that,  the  only  real  problems  connected 
with  date  growing  occur  in  handling  and  marketing 
the  crop.  As  for  the  culture  itself,  anyone  who  has 
mastered  the  few  and  simple  fundamental  principles 
of  farming  in  a  semi-arid  country  (which,  however, 
are  quite  different  from  those  of  farming  in  the 
eastern  United  States)  can  make  a  success  of  growing 
date  palms. 


POLLINATION 


CHAPTER  VII 
POLLINATION 

Since  the  dawn  of  history,  artificial  pollination 
of  the  female  date  palm  has  been  practiced  in  com- 
munities where  its  culture  was  commercially 
important.  Bas-reliefs  on  the  Assyrian  monuments 
plainly  show  the  operation.  Herodotus,*  who  wrote 
about  450  B.  C.,  gives  the  first  description  of  the 
operation,  which  he  saw  at  Babylon,  but  he  confounds 
it  with  the  caprification  of  the  fig.  Theophrastusf 
corrected  him,  and  describes  the  operation  clearly  and 
correctly;  Pliny, J  however,  seems  to  have  been  a 
little  hazy  as  to  the  principle  involved. 

The  medieval  Arab  authorities  understood  arti- 
ficial pollination,  but  their  lack  of  practical  experience 
is  shown  in  the  dubious  way  with  which  they  approach 
the  subject.  Abu-1  Khayr  says,  "  The  palm  fecundated 
by  the  male  at  the  time  it  blossoms  will  produce  dates 
that  are  soft  and  juicy" — a  proposition  that  is  rather 
obvious  to  most  date  growers;  and  Ibn  Awam, 
quoting  this,  adds,  "I  fecundated  a  wild  palm  in  Al 
Sharaf  at  the  time  of  opening  the  flowers,  with  those 
of  a  male  introduced  and  tied  to  it,  and  dates  of  a 
good  quality  were  produced;  which  operation  is  done 
only  once  a  year,  but  it  is  necessary  to  repeat  it  each 
year  as  for  figs."  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  these 
men  lived  in  a  seedling  date  region  where  there  were 

*History,  Book  I,  ch.  193. 

fHistoria  Plantarum,  ed.  \Vimmer,  vol.  II,  p.  6. 

JHistoria  Naturalis,  Book  XIII,  ch  7. 


102  DATE    GROWING 

probably   so   many   male  palms  that   the  fruit   was 
pollinated  even  without  the  aid  of  man. 

But  if  they  did  not  grasp  the  prime  importance 
of  the  operation,  they  had  a  good  excuse  in  precedent, 
for  one  of  the  most  humiliating  episodes  in  the  career 
of  the  "divinely  inspired"  and  professedly  infallible 
Muhammad  was  due  to  the  same  ignorance — and 
it  occurred  at  Madina,  which  has  always  claimed  to 
be  the  center  of  the  science  of  date  growing.  One 
spring  the  prophet  announced  that  the  artificial 
impregnation  of  the  palm  was  an  unnatural  practice, 
and  in  the  future  would  be  unlawful  for  his  followers. 
They  loyally  abstained,  with  many  misgivings,  no 
doubt;  and  in  the  fall  there  was  no  date  crop.  An 
indignation  meeting  was  immediately  held  and  a 
citizens'  committee  called  on  the  prophet  for  a 
heart-to-heart  talk,  as  a  result  of  which  Muhammad 
made  a  statement  to  this  effect:  "You  are  weak  in 
spiritual  knowledge,  but  are  worldly-wise;  therefore 
in  the  future  I  will  confine  myself  to  the  government 
of  your  spiritual  welfare,  and  let  you  manage  the 
affairs  of  this  world  to  suit  yourselves."  Next  year 
the  palms  were  artificially  pollinated  and  the  crop 
good  as  usual. 

Egypt  has  always  been  noted  for  the  number  of 
male  palms  it  contained,*  and  it  is  probable  that 
fecundation  by  the  wind  relieved  the  growers  to  some 
extent  of  the  necessity  for  artificial  impregnation; 
at  any  rate,  the  traveler  John  Ogilby,  who  wrote  in 

*A  report  is  still  extant,  made  to  Uraar  b.  al  Khatib,  the  second 
caliph,  when  he  was  contemplating  the  conquest  of  Egypt;  his 
informant  describes  it  as  "a  soil  rich  in  harvests  and  in  male  palms." 
Quoted  by  Masudi  in  "The  Prairies  of  Gold,"  vol.  Ill,  p.  125.  Paris, 
1864. 


POLLINATION  103 

1670,*  quotes  one  of  his  predecessors  to  the  effect 
that  the  palms  were  sometimes  pollinated  by  the  wind. 
His  description  of  the  date  is  so  quaint  that  it  is  worth 
a  slight  digression  to  insert  it:  he  entitles  it  "The 
Dadel,  a  Tree  Unknown  to  Us,"  and  says: 

"In  several  places  about  Egypt  and  especially 
about  Alexandria  are  great  woods  of  Dadel  trees, 
which  the  Arabians  from  the  name  of  the  fruit  called 
Dachel.f 

"The  Dadel  tree,  of  which  there  are  male  and 
female,  hath  every  other  year  abundance  of  fruit, 
but  the  female  affords  no  fruit  unless  her  branches 
be  plashed  with  those  of  her  mate.  Many,  to  make 
the  female  fruitful,  strow  the  matter  that  lies  in  the 
bag  or  receptacle,  out  of  which  the  blossom  and  fruit 
comes,  upon  her  branches;  and  probably  if  the 
Egyptians  did  not  do  so,  they  would  bring  forth  no 
fruit,  or  if  they  did,  they  would  never  come  to  any 
perfection.  But  Veslingus  seems  to  reject  this, 
ascribing  the  great  fruitfulness  of  it  to  the  soil,  being 
sandy  and  nitrous:  for  he  affirms  that  he  hath  seen 
the  earth  in  the  Dadel-tree  wood  oftentimes  thick- 
covered  with  a  white  down  or  callow,  like  cellar  walls 
where  we  find  our  saltpetre,  which  by  the  sultry 
south  winds  from  negro-land  and  the  barren  Arabia, 
is  in  great  abundance  driven  up  hither,  and  falling 
on  the  tops  of  the  Dadel  trees,  not  only  makes  them 
flourish  but  also  pregnant. 

"The  roots  are  so  small,  thin,  and  short  that  it  is 
a  wonder  how  it  supports  itself,  being  so  great, 
especially  when  often  charged  by  strong  and  assiduous 

*Ogilby,  John.    Africa,  p.  105.    London,  1670. 

t  Properly  Daqal  or  Degal.    The  word  Daddel  is  the  Swedish  and 
Dutch  for  "date";  both  go  back  to  the  Greek  Daktylos. 


104  DATEGROWING 

gusts;  for,  contrary  to  other  trees,  this  tapers  down- 
ward and  the  slenderest  part  of  the  stalk  is  nearest 
the  foot,  which  has  made  some  suppose  that  the  plant, 
though  large,  receives  no  nourishment  from  the  earth 
by  the  root,  but  by  the  air. 

"There  is  no  tree  more  profitable,  or  turns  to 
greater  account  than  this." 

The  natural  pollination  mentioned  by  Veslingus 
seems  to  have  been  exceptional,  however,  for  in  1800, 
when  the  French  invasion  prevented  work  in  the  fields, 
the  palms  around  Cairo  were  not  pollinated,  and  the 
crop  was  a  total  failure.* 

At  the  present  time  no  dependence  whatever  is 
placed  upon  nature  in  the  orient,  and  even  the  most 
isolated  clumps  of  palms  around  water  holes  in  the 
desert  will,  if  they  bear  dates,  be  found  to  have  been 
pollinated  by  some  nomad  Arab  who  looks  on  them 
as  his  property.  A  few  cases  have  been  noted  in 
America  where  pollen  has  been  carried,  perhaps  by 
insects,  for  distances  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  or  more, 
but  there  is  little  data  on  which  to  form  an  opinion 
as  to  the  possibilities  of  the  fecundation  of  a  female 
in  a  date  growing  country,  without  the  aid  of  the 
grower,  and  the  question  is  of  no  practical  interest. 
An  Italian  poet  of  the  fifteenth  centuryf  describes 
the  pollination  of  a  palm  near  Otranto  by  pollen 
carried  by  the  wind  from  a  male  forty-five  miles 
distant,  but  it  is  to  be  feared  that  his  poetic  tempera- 
ment interfered  with  his  truthfulness. 

The  method  of  pollination  in  America  is  the  same 
as  that  practised  in  the  orient,  and  it  is  given  so  clearly 

elile,  Egyptian  Flora. 
fPontanus. 


POLLINATION  105 

and  accurately  by  a  Persian  writer,*  that  I  quote  his 
account  verbatim:  "Phoenix  dactylifera  being 
dioecious — that  is,  having  the  male  and  female 
flowers  on  separate  trees — artificial  fertilization 
becomes  a  necessity,  and  is  the  means  of  ensuring  a 
crop,  especially  where  the  male  trees  are  far  from  the 
females,  or  not  in  the  way  of  wind  or  insects.  The 
latter  agents  are  not  considered  sufficient  by  the  date 
cultivators  of  the  Persian  Gulf,  as  when  artificial 
fertilization  is  not  resorted  to  the  fruit  yielded  is 
abortive  or  blighted,  with  little  flesh,  without  stones, 
and  totally  insipid.  Under  these  circumstances  it  is 
called  shisj  Therefore  human  agency,  or  artificial 
fertilization,  is  considered  essential  to  a  good  crop  of 
first-class  dates. 

"This  important  operation  is  performed  in  the 
following  manner:  As  soon  as  the  spathe,  or  covering 
of  the  bunch  of  male  flowers,  has  attained  its  full  size 
and  has  come  to  maturity,  it  is  detached.  Its  maturity 
is  known  by  a  faint  rustling  sound,  elicited  when  the 
central  part  of  the  spathe  is  gently  pressed  between 
the  fingers.  Also  if  a  slit  is  made  in  the  margin  of  the 
spathe,  so  as  to  expose  the  flower,  a  peculiar  odor 
is  detected.  When  the  bunch  of  mature  male  flowers 
is  detached,  the  spathe  is  split  open  and  the  sprigs  of 
male  flowers  are  carefully  removed  and  placed  in  a 
basket,  which  is  then  suspended  and  protected  from 

*A.  R  Hakim  Khan  Bahadur,  assistant  to  the  political  resident 
at  Fars,  in  memorandum  dated  July  1,  1884;  quoted  by  Bonavia, 
"The  Date  Palm  in  India,"  p.  47.  Calcutta,  1885. 

fThe  universal  and  classical  Arabic  word,  although  there  are 
many  synonyms.  In  Algeria  it  is  called,  by  metathesis,  sish.  Such 
dates  frequently  cause  a  report  of  the  existence  of  seedless  dates. 
All  supposedly  seedless  dates  reported  to  me  by  Arabs,  which  I  have 
personally  run  down,  have  turned  out  to  be  merely  unpollinated,  but 
genuine  seedless  dates  undoubtedly  exist.  They  are  described  by 
Palgrave  and  others. 


106  DATE    G.R  OWING 

draughts,  so  as  to  prevent  the  pollen  from  being 
scattered.  The  male  flowers  are  allowed  to  remain  so 
for  twenty  to  twenty-four  hours  before  being  used. 

"As  soon  as  the  female  flowers  have  burst  their 
enveloping  spathe,  the  cultivator  considers  them  fit 
for  impregnation.  He  then  takes  with  him  a  number 
of  male  sprigs,  climbs  up  the  female  tree,  and  inserts 
one  or  two  sprigs  of  male  flowers  into  each  bunch  of 
female  flowers,  securing  them  with  a  strip  of  date 
leaflet.  If  the  cultivator  finds  that  some  of  the  more 
forward  female  spathes  have  not  yet  burst,  to  save 
himself  the  trouble  of  reclimbing,  he  splits  them  open 
and  inserts  the  male  sprigs  as  before.  Only  very 
small  and  backward  spathes  he  leaves  for  a  subsequent 
operation,  when  he  thinks  them  sufficiently  matured.'' 

The  operation  always  takes  place  in  the  middle 
of  the  day,  since  dampness  is  the  greatest  factor  in 
failures.  In  Egypt,  any  time  between  ten  a.  m.  and 
three  p.  m.  is  considered  suitable.  In  Algeria,  the 
cultivator  does  not  work  if  a  north  or  east  wind  is 
blowing,  but  does  not  object  to  a  south  or  west  wind, 
as  these  two  are  hot  and  dry. 

It  is  preferable  to  shake  the  male  sprig  over  the 
female  flower,  before  tying  it  in  place,  as  the  pollen 
thus  reaches  all  parts  of  the  cluster  to  better  advantage. 
If  a  sheet  of  paper  is  held  under  the  cluster,  the 
pollen  which  falls  can  be  caught  and  saved  for  the 
next  palm.  A  paper  bag  is  the  best  thing  in  which  to 
carry  the  male  flowers.  It  is  probable  that  future 
experimentation  will  suggest  some  improvement  over 
the  Arab's  method  of  handling  the  pollen.  A  weak 
bellows,  such  as  is  used  for  insect  powder,  has  been 
suggested. 

As   far    as   the    pollen    is    concerned,    the    most 


POLLINATION  107 

important  thing  is  to  keep  it  dry  from  the  beginning. 
For  this  reason  the  male  flowers  should  be  cut  only 
during  the  warmer  part  of  the  day,  and  dried  very 
carefully,  otherwise  the  minute  grains  of  pollen 
will  agglutinate  into  a  mass  of  no  potency.  If  pollin- 
ation is  performed  in  moist  weather  the  same  result 
may  take  place  on  the  tree;  and  if  a  heavy  fog  or  rain 
occurs  after  the  female  has  been  pollinated,  it  may 
wash  off  all  the  pollen.  In  such  cases  the  blossoms 
should  at  once  be  repollinated,  and  usually  the  crop 
can  be  saved. 

If  the  pollen  is  kept  dry  it  preserves  its  value  for 
a  long  time,  and  in  some  date  growing  communities 
it  is  the  custom  to  save  a  small  supply  from  each  year 
to  the  next — a  custom  that  may  well  be  followed  in 
America,  where  females  sometimes  show  surprising 
precocity  in  bloom.  A  pollination  made  in  1912  at 
the  Mecca  Experiment  Station  with  pollen  seven  years 
old,  sent  from  the  Tempe  garden,  was  entirely  suc- 
cessful. The  elder  Michaux  reports,*  but  apparently 
not  of  his  own  knowledge,  that  pollen  had  preserved 
its  power  during  nineteen  years,  in  Persia.  It  can 
also  be  shipped  easily  from  one  region  to  another. 
Busreh  often  supplies  pollen  to  a  large  part  of  the 
Persian  gulf. 

In  case  of  a  shortage  of  pollen,  that  of  almost  any 
other  species  of  Phoenix,  or  even  distantly  related 
genera,  will  give  results.  Phoenix  canariensis,  which 
abounds  in  the  southwestern  United  States,  furnishes 
an  excellent  pollen  for  fertilizing  the  date  palm,  and 
with  some  varieties,  such  as  Ghars,  the  fruit  produced 
is  even  better  than  when  pollination  is  from  a  male  of 

*Annales  du  Museum,  Paris.    Quoted  in  "Vegetable  Substances 
Used  for  the  Food  of  Man,"  vol.  II,  p.  46.    London,  1846. 


108  DATE    GROWING 

P.  dactylifera.  In  California,  Drummond  has  success- 
fully pollinated  the  date  palm  with  the  California 
fan  palm,  Washingtoniafilifera,  and  the  Mediterranean 
dwarf  palm,  Chamerops  humilis,*  both  of  which  are 
common.  There  is  certainly  a  field  for  fascinating 
and  valuable  experiment  here. 

The  palm  usually  flowers  in  March  or  April, 
but  it  is  not  regular,  and  blossoms  may  be  found  from 
February  to  June.  It  is,  therefore,  necessary  to  have 
enough  varieties  of  males  to  provide  pollen  at  various 
periods,  unless  one  has  males  that  bloom  unusually 
early,  and  preserves  the  pollen  from  these. 

In  order  to  be  safe,  a  grower  should  have  three 
or  four  males  for  each  one  hundred  females.  Never- 
theless, a  really  good  male  will  pollinate  a  much  larger 
number  of  palms  than  is  indicated  in  those  figures — 
frequently  several  hundred.  Arabs  point  out  males 
which  they  say  will  pollinate  one  thousand  palms; 
and  there  is  one  at  Indio,  California,  which  might 
almost  match  this  record.  There  is  just  as  much 
difference  in  the  value  of  males  as  there  is  of  females, 
and  if  one  secures  a  really  desirable  specimen  he 
should  use  every  exertion  to  propagate  it  as  rapidly 
as  possible. 

Schweinfurth,  in  1901,  declared  that  the  charac- 
teristics of  the  male  had  an  influence  on  the  fruit 
which  resulted.!  His  statement  was  promptly 
challenged,  as  the  generally  accepted  idea  was  that 
the  influence  of  the  male  would  not  be  seen  in  the 

*M.  Denis  of  Hyeres  did  this  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  and 
Naudin  named  the  hybrid  Microphoenix  decipiens.  F.  Sahut  of 
Montpellier  crossed  the  date  palm  with  Trachycarpus  (Chamerops} 
excelsus,  in  1881,  and  Carriere  named  this  hybrid  M.  sahuti.  Ed. 
Andre  in  Revue  Horticole,  p.  128.  Paris,  1893. 

fSchweinfurth,  Dr.  George.  Ueber  die  Kultur  der  Dattelpalme 
in  Gartenflora,  vol.  50,  p.  513.  Berlin,  1901. 


POLLINATION  109 

immediate  resulting  seed,  but  only  when  that  seed 
was  planted  and  in  turn  produced  fruit.  But  the 
important  experiments  of  Bruce  Drummond,  assistant 
arboriculturist  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  in 
California,  during  recent  years  seem  to  confirm 
Schweinfurth's  statement,  and  to  show  that  the  quali- 
ties of  the  male  which  is  used  for  pollination  have  a 
decided  influence  on  the  fruit  which  results.  Not 
only  does  the  variety  Ghars  seem  to  produce  better 
fruit  when  pollinated  with  Phoenix  canariensis  than 
when  P.  dactylifera  is  the  parent,  but  a  variety  of 
males  has  been  tried  on  different  palms,  and  markedly 
different  results  observed.  A  difference  of  as  much  as 
one-third  in  the  size,  and  of  twenty  days  in  the  time 
of  ripening,  seems  to  have  been  due  to  a  change  in  the 
male  used  for  pollinating.  In  most  Arab  communities 
this  fact  seems  to  have  been  overlooked,  and  the  value 
of  a  male  is  judged  solely  by  the  amount  of  pollen  it 
produces;  but  the  more  intelligent  growers  of  Baghdad 
and  Oman  confirm  Schweinfurth  and  Drummond, 
declaring  that  the  male  used  has  a  direct  influence  on 
the  quality  and  quantity  of  fruit  produced. 

While  more  evidence  is  needed  to  establish  the 
proposition  beyond  dispute,  it  is  of  such  importance      /  N  || 
that  no  one  can  afford  to  select  his  males  haphazard  JU\v  •>   -. 
Unfortunately,  the  only  way  to  know  the  quality  of  a 
male  is  to  find  out  by  experiment,  and  this  requires 
some  time;  but  it  will  be  advisable  to  secure  offshoots 
of  males  of  known  performance,  and  to  depend  on 
chance  seedling  males  as  little  as  possible. 

The  flowers  of  the  female  palm  usually  open 
before  the  spathe  does,  so  that  pollination  can  be 
successfully  performed  even  when  the  spathe  is  pre- 
maturely opened  by  a  knife  in  the  hands  of  the  planter. 


110  DATEG&OWING 

Experience  has  shown  that  this  is  not  always  the 
case,  however,  and  a  number  of  failures,  where  no 
fruit  has  been  set,  have  been  traced  to  the  fact  that 
the  individual  blossoms  of  the  female  remained 
tightly  closed  for  several  days  after  the  spathe  had 
opened,  thus  giving  the  pollen  no  chance  to  enter 
when  it  was  shaken  over  the  cluster.  If  any  palm 
shows  a  disposition  to  set  no  fruit — and  usually  a 
palm  with  this  tendency  shows  it  each  year — the 
operator  should  examine  the  female  flowers  under  a 
low  power  microscope,  to  see  whether  they  are  opened 
or  closed.  If  opened,  a  minute  sticky  substance, 
looking  like  a  drop  of  dew,  will  be  seen  waiting  to 
receive  and  fix  the  pollen :  until  this  is  apparent,  it  is  a 
waste  of  time  to  pollinate  the  cluster. 

The  difference  between  male  and  female  flowers 
is  marked,  and  when  once  it  has  been  pointed  out, 
no  one  can  ever  confuse  them;  but  as  it  is  of  vital 
importance  to  every  grower,  and  offers  the  only 
certain  means  of  distinguishing  the  two  sexes,  I 
quote  Milne's  careful  statement*  at  length: 

"In  spring  a  number  of  structures,  at  first  greenish 
and  later  brown,  and  measuring  four  to  six  inches 
across  and  a  foot  or  more  in  length,  make  their 
appearance  at  the  bases  of  the  leaves  which  crown 
the  palm.  These  structures  are  called  spathes  and 
each  spathe  incloses  a  cluster  of  flowers.  When  the 
spathe  has  become  brown  in  color  and  has  attained 
something  like  the  size  mentioned  above,  it  splits 
open  and  exposes  the  cluster  of  flowers  which  it 
contains.  Each  flower  consists  of  a  central  stem  with  a 
hundred  or  more  branches  radiating  from  it  near  its 
end  and  somewhat  after  the  fashion  of  the  hairs  of  a 
*Milne,  D.  "  Date  Cultivation  in  the  Panjab,"  p.  12.  Lahore,  191] . 


POLLINATION  111 

paint  brush.  Each  of  these  small  branches  carries  on 
it  a  larger  number  of  tiny  flowers. 

"The  small  branches  on  the  male  flower  cluster 
are  about  six  inches  long,  and  if  the  cluster  is  shaken 
about  the  time  the  spathe  splits  open,  a  dense  cloud 
of  yellowish  pollen  dust  will  fall  from  it.  On  exam- 
ination it  will  be  seen  that  in  every  little  flower 
there  are  six  little,  yellowish  pollen  sacs,  each  on  the 
top  of-  a  tiny  stalk,  and  that  it  was  the  contents  of 
these  little  pollen  sacs  that  formed  the  cloud  of  pollen 
dust.  Around  the  six  little  stalks  with  their  pollen 
sacs  (stamens)  are  six  colorless  little  scale-like  struc- 
tures which  represent  the  sepals  and  petals  in  familiar 
flowers.  These  scale-like  sepals  and  petals  close  over 
and  protect  the  stamens  until  the  pollen  sacs  have 
matured  their  pollen  grains  and  are  ready  to  burst 
and  set  the  pollen  free.  Very  soon  after  the  large 
brown  spathe  splits  open,  the  scales  (sepals  and 
petals)  which  covered  and  protected  the  stamens 
open  out  and  the  pollen  sacs  burst.  The  opening  of 
the  scales  and  the  bursting  of  the  pollen  sacs  are  due 
to  the  cells  of  their  epidermal  tissues  drying  and 
contracting  under  the  heat  of  the  sun.  The  pollen 
sacs  are  usually  open  within  an  hour  or  two  after  the 
bursting  of  the  spathe. 

"The  spathe  which  encloses  the  female  flower 
cluster  is  very  similar  to  that  which  encloses  the  male 
cluster*  and  it  bursts  in  the  same  way  when  the  female 
cluster  is  ready  for  fertilization.  The  small  branches 
of  it  are,  however,  less  confined  to  the  end  of  its 
main  axis  and  are  very  much  longer  than  the  small 

*Furthermore,  the  shapes  of  both  vary  according  to  the  pressure 
and  distortion  to  which  they  have  been  subjected  while  emerging 
from  the  palm.  Therefore  attempts  to  identify  the  sex  of  a  palm  by 
the  shape  of  an  old  spathe  remaining  on  it  are  uncertain. 


112  DATE  'GROWING 

branches  on  the  male  flower  cluster.  The  female 
flower  also  differs  very  much  from  the  male  flower. 
It  is  an  oval-looking  body  and  might  be  mistaken  for 
a  male  flower  in  which  the  white  scales  (sepals  and 
petals)  had  not  opened  out.  On  dissecting  it,  however, 
it  will  be  found  that  the  central  and  main  part  of  the 
flower  is  formed  of  three  solid  bodies  closely  applied 
to  each  other  on  their  adjacent  faces  and  forming 
what  appears  like  one  oval  body.  Each  of  these 
three  solid  bodies  is  called  a  carpel  and  contains  a 
structure  called  an  ovule,  which  when  fertilized  by  the 
pollen  gives  rise  to  a  seed,  the  carpel  giving  rise  to  a 
fruit  at  the  same  time.*  At  the  bases  of  the  three 
carpels  are  six  scale-like  structures  similar  to  the 
protecting  scaly  sepals  and  petals  found  in  the  male 
flower,  but  very  much  smaller  and  clinging  more 
closely  to  the  carpels.  A  mass  of  female  flowers 
therefore  never  has  the  very  waxy,  white  appearance 
which  a  mass  of  open  male  flowers  has. 

"At  a  distance,  therefore,  the  flower  clusters  may 
be  distinguished  by  the  fact  that  the  small  branches 
in  the  male  cluster  are  about  six  inches  long  and 
densely  clustered  at  the  end  of  the  axis,  while  those  of 
the  female  are  usually  several  times  that  length  and 
less  densely  clustered  at  the  end  of  the  axis.  When 
the  flowers  newly  open  they  may  also  be  distinguished 
at  a  distance  by  the  white  waxy  color  of  the  male 
flowers,  and  the  more  yellowish  hue  and  less  crowded 
appearance  of  the  female  flowers.  If  taken  in  hand 
at  this  stage  a  dense  cloud  of  pollen  dust  will  be 
produced  from  the  male  flower,  while  none  will 
appear  from  the  female  flower.  Also  six  stamens  with 

*Two  of  these  carpels  drop  off  while  the  dates  are  still  small, 
leaving  only  one  fruit  on  each  stem,  under  normal  conditions. 


CO    -2 

H  -a 
O  c 
O  * 

I 
1 

o  -5 
2  S 

§11 

ll 

—  a; 


POLLINATION  113 

six  comparatively  large,  waxy-looking  scales  will 
constitute  each  male  flower,  while  the  female  flower 
will  be  composed  of  three  carpels  closely  applied  to 
each  other  and  forming  what  looks  like  a  single  solid, 
oval  body,  and  having  six  very  tiny  scales  closely 
applied  to  the  base.  The  flower  clusters  can  also  be 
distinguished  at  that  stage  by  their  smell." 

It  must  be  noted,  however,  that  in  all  parts  of  the 
world  monoecious  date  palms  are  occasionally  found — 
that  is,  palms  on  which  one  cluster  will  be  composed  of 
male  flowers  and  another  of  female  flowers.  In  such 
a  case  the  female  cluster  will  produce  fruit  if  pollinated 
by  its  brother,  the  male  spadix.  Again,  hermaphro- 
dite flowers  are  sometimes  found,  where  several  more 
or  less  functional  carpels  and  several  more  or  less 
functional  stamens  occur  in  the  same  flower;  this 
can  only  be  classed  as  an  abnormality.  It  appears 
that  the  same  tree  may  be  normal  one  year  and  monce- 
cious  the  next,  or  may  suddenly  throw  out  a  few 
hermaphrodite  flowers  and  never  do  so  again,  but 
resume  its  normal  functioning.  Such  cases  are  of 
great  interest  to  botanists,  and  anyone  who  may 
observe  palms  of  this  kind  should  report  on  them. 
For  the  commercial  grower,  they  have  no  practical 
importance. 

It  is  also  worthy  of  note,  in  passing,  that  a  date 
palm  sometimes  flowers  in  the  fall  instead  of  the  spring. 
This  has  been  the  case  on  the  coast  of  Southern 
California,  where  the  summers  are  cool;  the  palm 
then  carries  its  fruits  half -matured  through  the  winter, 
and  ripens  them  the  following  spring.  It  is  also 
doubtless  the  case  with  the  varieties  of  dates  reported 
in  Egypt,  which  bear  two  crops  a  year — the  second 
crop  must  be  due  to  a  fall  flowering,  the  fruit  of  which 


114  D  A  T  E    Gil  O  W  I  N  G 

is  carried  through  the  winter.  In  an  ordinary  date 
country  the  grower  is  not  likely  ever  to  see  such  a  case, 
but  if  he  did,  the  value  of  it  would  be  lost  to  him 
unless  he  had  some  pollen  stored  up  in  reserve. 

Artificial  pollination  is  the  only  delicate  operation 
connected  with  the  culture  of  the  palm,  and  the 
inexperienced  grower  usually  is  frightened  by  it; 
yet  it  is  troublesome  not  because  of  any  intrinsic 
difficulty,  but  merely  because  it  is  a  kind  of  work 
which  the  average  rancher  is  not  accustomed  to 
perform.  Any  man  of  average  intelligence  can  do  it, 
and  once  he  has  done  it  he  will  have  no  hesitation 
about  attempting  it  a  second  time.  But  as  the 
success  of  the  crop  absolutely  depends  on  it,  and  as  the 
beginner  is  naturally  worried  by  this  fact,  I  will  go 
over  the  necessary  operations  again. 

When  a  female  spathe  begins  to  crack,  a  male 
spathe  in  the  proper  stage  of  development  must  at 
once  be  selected.  It  is  better  not  to  wait  until  the  male 
spathe  has  split  open,  as  a  good  deal  of  the  pollen 
will  then  be  lost;  its  brown  color  and  soft  texture 
usually  indicate  when  it  is  about  ready  to  open.  The 
spathe  is  then  cut  off  and  the  cluster  taken  from  it. 
It  will  be  seen  that  the  pollen  sacs  have  not  yet  burst, 
but  are  still  covered  by  their  waxy  white  scales. 
The  small  sprigs  of  the  flower  should  be  cut  apart  and 
spread  out  in  a  dry  place,  free  from  air  currents,  until 
they  burst  and  have  had  a  chance  to  dry;  if  put  in  the 
sun  this  will  take  only  a  few  hours  in  an  atmosphere 
such  as  that  of  Coachella  Valley.  They  should  then 
be  placed  in  a  paper  bag  for  convenience  in  carrying; 
if  the  pollen  falls  out  of  its  sacs  it  will  be  held  in  the 
bag,  and  can  still  be  used.  The  spathe  of  the  female 
flower,  which  has  already  split,  is  pulled  apart  to 


POLLINATION  115 

facilitate  work,  and  a  sprig  of  the  male  shaken  over 
it,  then  stuck  in  it  and  tied  in  place  by  a  piece  of 
string,  so  that  if  some  of  the  female  flowers  have  not 
yet  opened  they  may  still  be  pollinated  by  the  wind. 
That  is  all  there  is  to  it. 

The  work  at  this  season  of  the  year  requires 
constant  and  conscientious  supervision,  however,  for 
if  the  female  clusters  are  not  pollinated  very  soon  after 
the  spathe  bursts,  they  usually  become  unreceptive. 
An  inspection  of  the  plantation  every  other  day  during 
the  flowering  season  would  probably  suffice,  but  if  a 
grower  has  only  a  few  trees  he  can  easily  keep  track 
of  them  every  day.  When  he  has  pollinated  a  cluster, 
it  would  be  convenient  to  tie  a  bright  colored  piece  of 
cloth  to  it,  so  that  he  would  not  be  confused  as  to 
which  clusters  he  had  pollinated  and  which  he  had  not. 


MALE  PALMS 


CHAPTER  VIII 

MALE  PALMS 

If  it  is  accepted  that  the  characteristics  of  the 
male  exert  a  direct  influence  on  the  fruit  produced,  it 
becomes  of  prime  necessity  to  select  the  male  parent 
with  as  much  care  as  the  female.  This  is  a  field  in 
which  most  of  the  experimentation  remains  to  be 
done,  and  each  grower  will  have  to  work  the  problem 
out  for  himself,  trying  the  pollen  of  different  males  on 
the  same  palm,  preferably  by  pollinating  each  cluster 
on  the  female  from  a  different  male.  If  the  clusters 
are  then  tagged  to  show  what  pollen  was  used,  a  good 
idea  can  be  had  in  one  year  as  to  the  most  desirable 
mate  for  that  particular  variety,  and  the  grower  can 
then  propagate  enough  of  that  strain  of  males  to 
ensure  as  much  pollen  as  he  needs.  With  a  plantation 
of  average  size,  and  a  good  supply  of  males  with  which 
to  experiment,  only  a  year  or  two  will  be  needed  to 
find  the  right  combinations  in  each  case  and  the 
grower  can  then  go  ahead  with  confidence.  If  he  does 
not  possess  enough  males,  there  is  danger  that  he  may 
continue  for  some  years  without  getting  the  best  or 
earliest  crop  possible. 

It  is  therefore  desirable  that  he  should  keep  as 
many  of  his  seedling  males  as  will  not  interfere  with 
his  other  work,  and  this  can  best  be  done,  as  already 
explained,  by  planting  a  windbreak  or  hedge  of 
seedlings  and  letting  all  the  males  remain  in  it. 

But  the  tests  in  California,  although  not  yet 
extensive  enough  to  be  conclusive,  indicate  that  the 
merits  of  seedling  males  are,  in  general,  not  great, 


120  DATE    GROWING 

and  the  scientific  grower  will  do  his  best  to  get  a 
collection  of  males  of  known  varieties,  even  if  he  has 
only  one  of  each  kind.  There  are  some  males  in  the 
United  States  which  fulfil  all  the  requirements,  and 
others  have  been  imported  from  the  orient. 

Of  the  latter  class,  the  best  in  Southern  California 
has  been  found  to  be  Ghanami  or  "bushy  head",  which 
was  brought  from  Busreh,  where  it  is  the  favorite  of 
the  most  intelligent  growers.  It  begins  to  furnish 
pollen  in  its  third  year,  blooms  early  in  the  season,  and 
is  prolific,  often  carrying  from  twenty  to  thirty  clusters. 
In  Arizona  it  seems  not  to  have  been  quite  so  valuable 
as  in  California. 

Other  named  varieties  at  Busreh  are  Hukri, 
whose  name  probably  signifies  "what  is  laid  by  in 
times  of  scarcity"  and  points  to  the  storing  of  pollen 
from  year  to  year — although  this  practice  is  rare 
among  modern  Mesopotamians;  Wardi,  "longhaired", 
and  Sumaysmi.  None  of  these,  I  believe,  has  been 
introduced  to  the  United  States. 

At  Baghdad  the  number  of  named  varieties  of 
male  is  larger,  fifteen  or  twenty  being  distinguished, 
but  all  by  the  name  of  the  female  variety  of  which  they 
are  supposed  to  be  a  product.  One  speaks  of  an 
Asharasi  male,  and  means  that  originally  it  was  a 
seedling  of  the  Asharasi  female — but  no  one  knows 
what  its  male  parentage  was.  Nowadays,  of  course, 
the  variety  is  propagated  only  by  offshoots.  Asharasi 
is  declared  to  be  the  best  of  all  males  there,  Arabs 
declaring  that  it  sometimes  bears  forty  or  fifty  spadices, 
and  that  not  only  is  the  yield  of  fruit  larger  when  this 
variety  is  used  for  pollination  on  any  female,  but  that 
the  flavor  of  the  dates  is  also  better.  Accordingly,  the 
best  kept  gardens  contain  only  this  variety  of  male; 


MALEPALMS  121 

but  if  it  is  lacking,  Barban  is  preferred,  with 
Khadhrawi  third  choice.  The  Baghdad  males  have 
not  yet  been  tested  in  the  United  States.  I  imported 
forty-nine  offshoots  of  Asharasi  in  1913,  but  in  order 
to  avoid  confusion  with  the  female  of  the  same  name 
I  kept  only  the  first  two  syllables,  and  added  an 
Arabic  word  for  male;  so  the  variety  is  introduced  to 
California  as  Ashar  Fahal. 

Many  offshoot-propagated  varieties  of  males 
from  North  Africa  have  been  tested  in  the  United 
States,  but  with  poor  results,  a  large  proportion  of 
them  proving  sterile — a  condition  often  found  in 
seedling  males,  as  well.  None  of  them  was  named — 
in  fact,  Busreh  and  Baghdad  are  the  only  regions  where 
I  have  been  able  to  find  named  varieties  of  male 
perpetuated,  unless  it  be  in  Oman,  where  I  could  get 
no  conclusive  evidence.  In  Algeria  I  heard  of,  but 
did  not  see,  a  male  variety  called  Fahal  Aksba. 

A  male  imported  from  Egypt  some  years  ago 
under  the  name  of  Dakar  Majahel*  has  proved  better 
than  any  other  in  Arizona,  but  has  been  of  little  value 
in  California. 

As  a  start,  the  best  thing  a  grower  of  dates  can 
do  is  to  consult  his  neighbors  and  find  out  what 
males  succeed  in  that  locality,  then  secure  these  and 
use  them  until  he  is  able  to  test  the  needs  of  his 
palms  for  himself.  He  should  act  early  in  this  matter, 
for  more  than  one  crop  of  fruit  has  been  lost  in  the 
United  States  through  lack  of  pollination,  in  spite  of 
the  large  number  of  seedling  palms  which  are  to  be 
found  everywhere. 

Then,  if  the  grower  has  planted  a  hedge  of  palms, 

*But  this  is  not  a  variety  name.    It  is  simply  some  one's  attempt 
to  spell  the  Arabic  for  "unknown  male." 


122  DATE    G'RO  WING 

as  has  been  often  suggested  here,  he  will  have  a  large 
number  of  males,  representing  all  kinds  of  character- 
istics, and  taking  up  so  little  room  on  his  grounds 
that  they  can  be  allowed  to  grow  indefinitely.  With 
the  pollen  of  these  he  can  begin  to  experiment,  both 
on  other  seedlings,  and  (in  a  more  limited  way,  not  to 
reduce  profits)  on  his  choice  varieties  of  palms,  until 
he  has  found  what  each  male  will  do.  As  soon  as  he 
gets  a  male  that  satisfies  any  particular  variety  of 
female,  he  should  make  a  careful  note  of  the  fact  and 
use  nothing  else  with  that  variety.  If  he  has  such  a 
male  as  Ghanami  to  start  with,  it  is  quite  likely  that 
he  will  find  nothing  better;  but  whatever  male  he 
selects  for  perpetuation  he  can  readily  propagate  by 
offshoots  until  he  has  as  many  as  he  can  ever  need, 
and  some  to  sell  to  his  neighbors. 

If  one  secures  a  male  that  blooms  very  early  and 
seems  potent,  he  should  propagate  it  as  a  precaution, 
so  that  he  may  always  have  pollen  at  the  beginning 
of  the  season. 

Until  seedlings  have  blossomed,  no  way  has  yet 
been  found  to  distinguish  male  from  female.  Doubtless 
there  are  some  differences,  but  they  are  not  sufficiently 
marked  and  constant  to  be  relied  on.  But  as  soon  as 
the  first  flower  has  appeared,  the  question  is 
permanently  settled. 

The  offshoots  of  different  male  varieties  differ 
from  each  other  almost  as  much  as  the  offshoots  of 
different  female  varieties;  but  in  general  it  is  not 
difficult  to  distinguish  a  male  offshoot  from  a  female 
offshoot,  and  an  adult  male  palm  can  be  told  from  an 
adult  female  in  most  cases,  although  not  in  all,  for 
some  varieties  of  female  exactly  resemble  a  male  palm. 
The  general  difference  is  that  the  male  has  more  and 


MALEPALMS  123 

heavier  leaves,  which  are  stiff,  and  closely  packed 
together;  the  trunk  is  usually  stouter. 

The  characteristics  of  a  male  offshoot,  as 
distinguished  from  a  female,  are  generally  as  follows : 

The  number  of  the  leaves  in  the  crown  is  greater. 

The  segments  of  the  leaves  are  somewhat  stouter, 
and  their  sharp  points  are  consequently  more 
penetrating. 

The  spines  are  frequently  heavier  and  set  closer 
together. 

The  leaves  have  a  crowded  appearance  (because 
there  are  more  of  them). 

If  there  is  a  stem,  it  is  usually  thicker  than  in  the 
case  of  females. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed,  however,  that  a  novice 
can  decide  with  certainty  whether  an  offshoot  is  male 
or  female.  Experience  and  close  observation  are 
required. 

Arabs  of  Northern  Africa  have  an  interesting 
theory  that  if  the  midrib  of  each  leaf  of  a  male  palm, 
still  young,  is  split  from  tip  to  base,  the  palm  will 
become  a  female.  This  has  not  usually  been  considered 
worthy  of  the  attention  of  scientific  men,  yet  a  French 
grower  at  Biskra  claims  to  have  proved  its  truth  to  his 
own  satisfaction.  Anyone  with  a  few  male  seedlings 
to  spare  may  be  interested  to  try  it  for  himself.  The 
Frenchman  referred  to  also  states  that  he  has  suc- 
ceeded in  grafting  the  palm — an  operation  that  is, 
theoretically,  not  impossible,  but  at  least  has  never 
been  accomplished  (unless  by  him)  and  placed  on 
scientific  record. 

As  particularly  choice  varieties  of  males  are 
found  and  perpetuated,  it  is  much  to  be  desired  that 


124  DATE    GROWING 

they  be  given  distinctive  names.  This,  however, 
should  be  done  by  some  association  or  scientific  body, 
as  experience  has  amply  proved  that  where  the 
nomenclature  of  varieties  is  left  to  individual  growers 
endless  confusion  inevitably  results.  Perhaps  a 
co-operative  association  of  date  growers  could  appoint 
a  committee  to  supervise  such  matters. 


HANDLING  THE  CROP 


CHAPTER  IX 
HANDLING  THE   CROP 

A  few  dates — Persian  Gulf  varieties — ripen  during 
the  last  week  of  July  in  California,  under  favorable 
conditions,  but  August  is  as  early  as  one  can  expect 
any  of  the  sorts  which  have  so  far  been  tried  out  here, 
and  a  much  larger  number  still  will  come  on  in 
September,  which  is  the  month  of  principal  harvest, 
unless  the  summer  has  been  abnormal.  In  October 
the  late  dates,  and  particularly  those  from  Algeria, 
mature,  finishing  in  November,  the  first  half  of 
which  should  see  the  wind-up  of  the  entire  harvest, 
unless  it  be  for  some  particular  variety  like  Shitwi  or 
— in  Arizona — Badrashin. 

This  crop  season  corresponds  with  the  season  in 
all  other  date  growing  countries,  except  India,  where 
the  advent  of  the  monsoon  in  summer  forces  the  dates 
in  many  districts  to  complete  their  maturity  before 
July.  At  Baghdad  the  first  dates  ripen  in  August  and 
the  last  in  November.  At  Busreh  the  same  is  the  case; 
the  height  of  the  season  is  mid-September,  when 
Halawi,  Khadhrawi  and  Sayir,  the  three  great  com- 
mercial varieties,  are  simultaneously  on  the  market. 
Oman  has  the  earliest  dates  I  know;  they  are  to  be 
found  in  the  market  from  May  15th  to  November 
15th,  in  a  fresh  state.  Some  of  the  Egyptian  dates 
are  said  to  ripen  in  June,  but  the  bulk  of  the  crop  does 
not  appear  before  August  1st.  In  Arabia  proper — 
at  Madina,  for  example — the  first  dates  appear 
June  1st,  and  the  main  harvest  a  month  later.  In 


128  DATE. GROWING 

North  Africa  September  and  October  are  the  months 
of  greatest  activity. 

As  the  fruit  begins  to  soften,  it  is  the  object  of  a 
good  deal  of  anxiety  on  the  part  of  its  owner,  for  it 
may  meet  injury  in  several  ways,  against  which  he 
must  guard.  An  unseasonable  rain  may  cause  nearly 
ripe  dates  to  ferment.  This  is  little  to  be  expected 
in  Southern  California,  and  experience  has  shown  that 
in  that  dry  climate  the  effects  of  an  untimely  shower 
are  so  soon  obliterated  by  the  sun  that  the  actual 
damage  is  slight.  In  Arizona  there  is  greater  danger, 
for  the  ground  and  air  may  remain  moist  for  days 
after  the  rain  has  stopped.  In  such  a  case,  if  the 
dates  are  ripe  enough  to  receive  damage,  they  must 
be  at  once  picked  and  prepared  for  market  by  the 
rapid  artificial  method  described  in  another  chapter. 

Insects  and  birds  sometimes  make  trouble  when 
the  fruit  is  ripening.  *  A  bag  of  cheesecloth  is  absolute 
protection  against  them,  however.  In  some  localities 
human  thieves  are  still  more  annoying.  The  Arab  of 
North  Africa  is  a  redoubtable  visitor  at  night:  no 
wall  or  hedge  will  turn  him,  nor  does  the  fiercest  dog 
deter  him,  for  he  strips  off  his  clothes  and  smears  his 
body  with  a  rancid  grease.  Then  if  a  dog  appears, 
the  native  drops  on  all  fours,  and  the  most  vicious 
animal  will  not  attack  such  an  extraordinary  creature. 

When  the  dates  are  finally  ripe  enough  to  pick, 
the  greatest  activity  of  the  year  begins.  If  one  is  so 
fortunate  as  to  have  varieties  which  mature  their  fruit 
evenly  and  bear  it  on  long  stems,  he  will  save  a  lot  of 
money,  for  it  can  then  be  stripped  off  the  tree  without 
delay.  In  Arizona,  Birket  al  Hajji  has  proved  the 

*  Arabs  speak  of  particularly  choice  dates  as  "crow's  dates" 
because  the  crow  is  thought  to  select  the  best  fruit  on  the  palm  for  his 
attacks. 


HANDLING    THE    CROP  129 

best  of  all  varieties  to  pick — two  men  can  easily  gather 
one  thousand  pounds  in  a  day.  Ghars,  on  the  other 
hand,  holds  its  fruit  close  between  its  thorny  leaf 
stalks,  and  as,  in  the  moist  climate  of  Tempe,  it  ripens 
unevenly,  the  picker  must  scrutinize  each  individual 
berry.  Under  these  circumstances  it  has  been  found 
at  Tempe  that  a  picker  sometimes  will  not  secure  more 
than  fifty  pounds  of  Ghars  berries  in  a  day.  ^ 

Two  men  can  usually  work  together  to  advantage , 
one  holding  a  basket  into  which  the  other  places  the 
berries.  They  should  cut  the  spines  from  the  leaf 
stems  before  beginning  work. 

At  the  first  picking  it  is  best,  unless  with  a  variety 
which  ripens  its  fruit  very  evenly,  to  go  over  the  bunch 
carefully,  and  select  only  those  dates  which  are  really 
ripe  enough  to  pick.  The  rest  of  the  bunch  is  left 
on  the  tree  for  subsequent  picking.  In  bad  climates, 
or  with  bad  varieties,  the  dates  may  have  to  be  taken 
at  three  or  more  times,  but  in  Southern  California 
this  is  rarely  the  case.  The  Arab  usually  cuts  a  whole 
cluster  at  a  time,  but  he  wastes  a  great  deal  of  the 
crop,  and  has  more  culls  on  his  hands  than  a  scientific 
grower  will  desire.  His  methods  are  not  to  be  taken 
as  a  pattern.  He  frequently  cuts  a  bunch  and  lets  it 
drop  twenty  or  thirty  feet  to  the  ground  to  save  the 
trouble  of  lowering  it  on  a  rope. 

If  the  dates  are  to  be  consumed  at  home  they 
require  no  further  treatment,  unless  it  be  a  washing 
to  clean  them  of  dust.  The  dainty  Arab  grower 
sometimes  rinses  them  in  diluted  date  syrup — a 
refinement  that  is  hardly  worth  while.  If  they  are 
washed,  they  should  be  well  dried  in  the  sun. 

If  they  are  to  be  kept  for  some  time,  or  are  to  be 
marketed,  they  should  be  pasteurized  as  soon  as 


130  DATE    CROWING 

they  are  brought  from  the  field,  in  order  to  free  them 
of  insect  eggs  and  the  bacteria  of  fermentation  and 
decay.  A  temperature  of  180°  to  190°  F.  for  three 
hours  is  all  that  is  necessary.  The  rancher  can 
perform  the  operation  in  the  oven  of  his  cookstove, 
in  a  rough  way,  but  commercial  growers  will  probably 
build  an  oven  for  the  purpose,  in  order  to  handle 
considerable  quantities  of  fruit,  spread  out  on  shallow 
trays  with  wire-mesh  bottoms,  to  give  free  circulation 
of  the  air.  If  an  incubator  is  kept  for  rapid  artificial 
ripening  of  the  dates,  it  can  also  be  used  for 
pasteurization. 

In  a  dry,  hot  climate,  and  with  suitable  varieties 
of  dates,  pasteurization  will  be  unnecessary  unless 
the  fruit  is  likely  to  be  stored  for  a  long  period  of  time. 
The  grower  should  use  his  own  judgment,  but  he 
should  err  on  the  safe  side,  for  it  will  be  detrimental 
to  the  entire  future  of  the  industry  if  any  one  puts 
on  the  market  dates  which  are  infested  with  worms. 

If  the  dates  are  ripened  on  the  palm,  they  will  be 
ready  for  packing  as  soon  as  they  are  pasteurized 
and  after,  in  the  case  of  soft  varieties,  they  have  been 
dried  well  in  the  sun.  Otherwise  they  must  be  arti- 
ficially ripened,  but  I  leave  the  discussion  of  that 
process  for  a  separate  chapter. 

Packing  is  a  subject  on  which  the  grower  must 
follow  his  own  ideas,  or,  later,  the  ideas  of  the  co- 
operative association  of  which  he  may  be  a  member. 
I  can,  therefore,  only  give  some  general  suggestions. 
It  is  hardly  necessary  to  point  out  that  packing  is, 
as  far  as  the  creation  of  public  sentiment  is  concerned, 
probably  the  most  important  part  of  the  date  industry, 
and  that  any  grower  who  allows  himself  to  sell  dates 
that  are  not  well  packed  is  injuring  not  only  his  own 


HANDLING    THE    CROP  131 

interests,  but  those  of  every  other  grower  in  the 
country.  Eventually,  no  doubt,  it  will  be  necessary 
to  have  a  strong  co-operative  association  to  standard- 
ize the  packs  and  see  that  every  brand  is  kept  at  par. 

If  dates  are  to  be  packed  in  bulk,  the  box  should 
be  lined  with  a  good  grade  of  heavy,  paraffined  paper, 
and  the  fruit  laid  in  rows,  sufficiently  pressed  together 
to  be  tight,  and  prevent  the  dates  to  some  extent  from 
drying  out,  but  yet  not  enough  to  squeeze  them  out 
of  shape.  It  is  desirable  that  dates  should  be  packed 
with  the  calyx  in  place,  as  when  this  is  pulled  out  it 
leaves  a  broad  avenue  for  dirt  and  worms  to  enter 
the  seed  cavity.  One  can  not  absolutely  insist  on  this, 
as  it  is  impossible  with  certain  varieties. 

The  pack  must  be  uniform,  every  date  being  of 
the  same  variety.  Otherwise  the  grower  can  not 
expect  to  get  any  higher  price  than  is  paid  for  culls. 

If  the  dates  are  not  to  be  sold  in  bulk,  and  yet 
can  not  meet  the  requirements  of  the  fancy  trade,  a 
wooden  berry  box  offers  a  cheap  and  convenient 
means  of  packing.  If  soft,  the  dates  should  be 
covered  with  paper,  and  a  ribbon  across  the  top  adds 
a  touch  of  attractiveness  at  a  slight  cost.  But  in  such 
a  matter  each  packer  will  have  ideas  of  his  own. 

The  most  remunerative  trade,  however,  and  the 
one  to  which  every  shipper  will  desire  to  cater  if  the 
quality  of  his  fruit  permits,  is  that  for  dates  packed 
like  confectionery.  For  this  purpose,  boxes  holding 
a  pound  or  two  pounds  are  used,  and  may  be  made  of 
pasteboard,  wood  or  tin;  the  former  are  good  enough 
for  ordinary  purposes.  Usually  only  two  layers  of 
dates  are  placed  in  a  box,  but  they  must  be  selected 
fruit,  every  berry  plump,  sound,  well  ripened,  and  not 
crushed.  The  top  layer  is  packed  with  a  little  extra 


132  DATE    GROWING 

care,  and  a  narrow  space  left  down  the  middle  of  the 
box,  lengthwise,  in  which  a  piece  of  one  of  the  slender 
branches  of  the  date  cluster  is  placed,  so  that  the 
effect,  on  opening  the  box,  is  that  of  dates  still  attached 
to  the  branch.  A  minute's  inspection  of  any  well- 
packed  Algerian  or  American  dates  will  show  the 
method  of  packing,  and  the  packer's  success  with  it 
depends  solely  on  his  own  neatness  and  good  taste 
and  the  quality  of  his  materials.  The  oiled  paper 
should  be  folded  over  the  top  of  the  dates,  before  the 
cover  is  put  on.  If  one  wishes  to  sell  dates  at  $1.00 
a  pound,  there  must  be  nothing  about  the  package 
that  is  not  first-class,  and  the  grower  has  plenty  of  room 
to  show  his  artistic  skill  in  providing  a  suitable  label. 

There  remains  the  marketing  of  dates  in  bunches, 
a  feature  of  the  industry  that,  I  believe,  will  have  an 
important  future  for  those  date-growing  regions 
which  are  conveniently  near  to  a  market,  and  in  the 
case  of  suitable  varieties,  such  as  Zahidi  in  the  stage 
which  Baghdadis  call  "kursi."  Deglet  Nur  and 
Yatimeh  also  hang  well  on  the  cluster,  and  are  much 
sold  in  that  condition  in  the  Algerian  markets;  so  do 
many  other  varieties,  if  they  are  properly  handled. 
For  this  purpose  as  large  a  cluster  as  possible  should 
be  selected,  and  all  spoiled  or  immature  dates  picked 
off.  If  it  is  placed  in  the  grocer's  window,  properly 
protected  from  flies,  and  if  the  dates  are  really  good, 
few  customers  can  resist  purchasing.  A  large  bow  of 
ribbon  on  the  stem  of  the  cluster  would  add  to  the 
attractiveness  of  the  display. 

By  the  use  of  artificial  ripening,  it  is  possible  that 
clusters  of  dates  which  mature  evenly  could  be  shipped 
while  still  firm,  even  to  a  distant  market,  and  ripened 
on  their  arrival,  before  being  exposed  for  sale. 


ARTIFICIAL  RIPENING 


CHAPTER  X 

ARTIFICIAL  RIPENING 

From  the  dawn  of  history  crude  methods  of 
artificial  ripening  have  been  practised  on  the  date. 
The  Arab  sometimes  takes  a  bundle  of  nettles  or 
thorny  twigs  and  beats  a  green  cluster  of  dates  with 
it;  the  perforation  of  the  skin  sets  up  a  fermentation 
in  each  berry  which,  to  an  Arab  palate,  quickly 
makes  it  ripe  enough  to  eat.  Again,  he  cuts  partly 
through  the  stem  of  the  cluster,  and  by  thus  shutting 
off  some  of  the  nutrition  supplied  to  the  dates  causes 
them  to  ripen  prematurely. 

The  process  is  oftener  applied  after  the  dates 
have  been  picked.  Indeed,  the  immense  quantities 
of  boiled  dates  sold  in  the  Persian  Gulf  region  and 
India  are  really  only  dates  that  have  been  ripened 
artificially.  They  are  taken  while  still  hard  and  nearly 
green,  and  boiled  for  an  hour  or  more.  If  astringent, 
a  large  handful  of  salt  is  added  to  each  gallon  of  water. 
Then  they  are  dried  for  eight  or  ten  days  in  the  sun, 
and  are  ready  for  use.  In  some  regions,  after  boiling 
they  are  fried  in  oil.  This  renders  them  hard,  and 
usually  there  is  some  astringency  left,  but  in  the  most 
satisfactory  cases  the  flavor  is  nutty  and  crisp,  or 
sometimes  very  much  like  maple  sugar.  Dates  in 
this  condition  will  keep  for  a  year  or  more.* 

In  the  Sindh  desert  green  dates  are  "ripened" 
by  a  quick  process,  being  packed  tightly  in  jars  of 

*Dates  so  prepared  are  called  kharak  pokhta  (Pers.)  or 
khalal  matbukh  (Arab.),  both  of  which  mean  "boiled,  unripe  dates"; 
or  in  India,  bhugrian  or  chuhara. 


136  DATE    CROWING 

salt  and  left  overnight.  A  similar  method  is  in  use 
in  Egypt. 

Most  of  the  dates  of  Spain  are  also  artificially 
ripened,  by  immersion  in  hot  vinegar  for  a  few  minutes. 
The  acetic  acid  ripens  them  over  night  into  an  eatable 
product. 

A  peculiar  slow  method  of  ripening  the  variety 
Yatimeh  is  used  in  Algeria,  an  entire  cluster  being 
cut  before  it  is  quite  ripe,  and  packed  in  a  box  entirely 
surrounded  by  dry  dates,  usually  of  the  variety 
Mashi  Degla.  They  are  left  until  spring,  when 
the  dates  come  out  in  perfect  condition. 

Most  Deglet  Nurs  of  North  Africa  undergo 
slow  artificial  ripening,  usually  without  realization 
on  the  part  of  the  packer  of  what  he  is  doing.  They 
are  picked  when  they  show  a  translucent  spot  on 
one  side,  and  are  then  packed;  after  eight  or  ten  days 
they  are  in  perfect  condition  for  use. 

The  big  Majhul  dates  of  Tafilalet  are  all  ripened 
off  the  tree,  being  picked  when  they  have  turned 
yellow,  and  spread  on  the  ground  in  the  sun.  They 
are  not  protected  at  night,  but  the  dates  of  Lower 
California  and  Mexico,  which  are  artificially  ripened 
in  the  same  manner,  are  wrapped  up  in  blankets  at 
night  to  keep  the  temperature  more  even.  The 
same  process,  in  principle,  is  used  all  over  the  date- 
growing  world,  and  at  harvest- time  the  flat  roofs  of 
the  houses  are  always  covered  with  curing  dates. 

Even  before  the  Christian  era,  Pliny  points  to 
artificial  ripening  of  dates  in  Egypt,  when  he  says,* 
"The  date  of  Thebais  is  at  once  packed  in  casks,  with 
all  its  natural  heat  and  freshness;  for  without  this 
precaution  it  quickly  becomes  vapid;  it  is  of  a  poor, 

*Hist.  Nat.,  Bk.  XIII,  ch.  9. 


• 


FLOWERS   OF   THE    PALM 

Left,  the  crowded  blossoms  of  the  male;  right,  the  more  widely  separated 
blossoms  of  the  female. 


ARTIFICIAL    RIPENING  137 

sickly  taste,  too,  if  it  is  not  exposed,  before  it  is  eaten, 
to  the  heat  of  an  oven. " 

There  is  nothing  new,  then,  about  the  idea  of 
ripening  dates  artificially,  but  the  attention  of 
science  was  never  turned  to  the  subject  until  it  was 
taken  up  by  Americans.  Members  of  the  University 
of  Arizona  Experiment  Station  began  the  work,  and 
were  afterward  joined  by  investigators  from  the 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  and  private  individuals. 
The  investigations  have  been  carried  out  along  a 
number  of  lines,  and  while  it  is  probable  that  none  of 
them  have  reached  their  full  development,  they  have 
been  so  definitely  successful  that  artificial  ripening 
can  be  considered  a  necessary  part  of  modern  date 
growing,  and  an  operation  which  is  within  the  means 
and  skill  of  any  intelligent  rancher. 

Advantages  to  be  derived  from  artificial  ripening 
of  the  date  are  thus  summarized  by  R.  H.  Forbes, 
director  of  the  Arizona  Experiment  Station: 

1.  The  fruit  can  be  harvested   cheaply,  by   the 
bunch,  before  the  berries  begin  to  drop  or  are  attacked 
by  insects,  mould,  or  bacteria. 

2.  Danger  of  loss  by  untimely  rains  is  minimized- 

3.  The  ravages   of  worms  in   the   ripened  crop 
are  avoided. 

4.  Greater  cleanliness  of  the  product  is  possible 
than  with  naturally  ripened  dates. 

5.  Late    varieties,    among    them    Deglet    Nur, 
which  do  not  ripen  satisfactorily  here  (in  Arizona), 
may  be  successfully  brought  through. 

6.  Early  varieties  may  probably  be  grown  and 
ripened  at  higher  altitudes  than  formerly. 

7.  Dates  while  yet  hard  may  be  shipped  without 


138  DATE    GROWING 

injury  to  a  distance,  then  ripened  artificially,  and 
marketed  in  a  fresh  and  prime  condition. 

Work  in  Arizona  was  first  begun  with  the  use  of 
moist  heat,  and  this  was  carried  on  until  successful 
results  were  obtained,  with  the  drawback  that  much 
of  the  cane  sugar  was  turned  into  invert  sugar.* 
Dr.  A.  E.  Vinson  then  took  up  the  use  of  chemicals, 
and  found  many  which  would  induce  artificial  ripen- 
ing. Some  of  them,  however,  had  the  disadvantage  of 
making  the  dates  inedible,  because  of  their  own  odors, 
— e.g.,  gasoline  and  ammonia.  Among  the  sub- 
stances which  gave  fairly  good  results  were  benzoic 
acid,  salicylic  acid,  sodium  benzoate,  sodium  salicylate, 
sodium  acetate,  potassium  acetate,  oxalic,  malonic, 
succinic  and  lactic  acids,  acetamide,  formamide, 
hippuric  acid,  cinnamic  acid,  and  hydroxylamine 
chlorhydrate.  He  finally  settled  on  nitrous  ether  as 
the  most  desirable  agent,  but  has  since  given  this  up 
in  favor  of  carbon  dioxid,  which  is  now  used  to 
ripen  most  of  the  dates  sold  from  Tempe  Experiment 
Station,  t 

The  basis  of  this  application  is  the  fact  that  the 
date,  when  it  is  ripening  naturally,  liberates  large 
quantities  of  carbon  dioxid.  It  was,  therefore, 
assumed  that  this  gas  played  an  important  part  in 
ripening  the  dates,  and  experiment  has  shown  this 
to  be  the  fact. 

*But  this  is  hardly  a  real  disadvantage,  for  most  good  (and  bad) 
dates  are  invert  sugar  dates.  Up  to  the  present  only  two  varieties 
have  been  found  which  are  cane  sugar  fruits:  Deglet  Nur  and  Ma- 
kantishf,  of  North  Africa,  and  even  these  always  contain  at  least  a 
small  percentage  of  invert  sugar,  just  as  all  ripe  invert  sugar  dates 
contain  a  little  cane  sugar. 

fVinson,  A.  E.  "Chemistry  and  Ripening  of  the  Date."  Univ. 
of  Ariz.  Agric.  Exp.  Sta.  Bui.  No.  66,  Tucson,  May  1,  1911.  The 
results  of  the  work  with  carbon  dioxid  have  not  yet  appeared  in 
print,  however. 


ARTIFICIAL    RIPENING  139 

The  process  of  ripening  dates  in  this  manner  is 
simple  and  not  expensive.  It  requires  only  a  tank  of 
carbon  dioxid,  which  can  be  obtained  from  commercial 
manufacturers,  and  a  chamber  in  which  the  heat  can 
be  kept  steadily  at  a  temperature  around  135°  F.  A 
tight  closet  or  cabinet  can  easily  be  constructed  for 
this  purpose,  with  a  hot  water  heater,  to  supply  the 
essential  humidity.  The  quantity  of  gas  used  is  very 
small.  Time  needed  will  depend  on  the  stage  of 
maturity  of  the  date  when  picked,  but  should  never 
exceed  twenty-four  hours.  Pasteurization  should 
precede  the  treatment. 

Dr.  Vinson  considers  that  this  is  the  best  method 
for  large,  soft  dates,  while  moist  heat  gives  better 
results  with  Deglet  Nur.  It  must  be  stated,  however, 
that  the  problems  of  Arizona,  due  to  climatic 
conditions,  are  peculiar,  and  that  what  may  be 
necessary  or  desirable  there  may  be  otherwise  in  a 
different  state.  In  California  less  favorable  results 
have  been  secured  with  the  gas,  and  in  the  present 
state  of  affairs  it  is  hardly  worth  while  for  a  grower 
to  try  it,  since  entirely  satisfactory  results  can  be 
attained  without  it.  In  Arizona  the  grower  must 
decide  for  himself  what  treatment  he  will  use;  if  he  is 
in  such  an  unfavorable  situation  as  Tempe,  where  the 
ground  is  continually  saturated,  the  air  frequently 
moist,  and  summer  rains  to  be  expected,  perhaps 
carbon  dioxid  will  be  necessary. 

Moist  heat  was  used  by  G.  F.  Freeman  of  the 
Arizona  Experiment  Station,  who  first  published 
details  of  the  work;*  afterward  it  was  taken  up  by 
Bruce  Drummond  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry 
Station  at  Indio,  California,  and  a  number  of  private 

*Freeman,  G.  F.    "Ripening  Dates  by  Incubation."    Ibid. 


140  DATE    GROWING 

growers  under  his  supervision.  The  method  was 
brought  to  efficiency,  *  but  has  been  partly  abandoned 
in  favor  of  slower  ripening  without  artificial  heat. 
It  is  still  invaluable,  however,  in  the  case  of  dates 
which  have  been  exposed  to  rain  while  ripening,  or 
have  mummified  on  the  tree,  or  when  for  any  other 
reason  it  is  desired  to  produce  quick  results;  and 
every  grower  can  and  should  master  the  details  of  it. 
It  is  true  that  a  good  deal  of  the  technique  depends 
on  the  judgment  of  the  operator,  but  this  is  also  the 
case  with  the  baking  of  bread,  in  which  every  good 
housekeeper  has  attained  success. 

The  apparatus  required  is  an  oven  of  some 
kind  in  which  heat  can  be  maintained  at  about  110°  F. 
for  a  period  of  twenty-four  hours.  A  large  incubator 
made  for  poultrymen  will  do,  but  something  cheaper 
could  easily  be  constructed  from  galvanized  iron, 
provided  with  a  coil  of  hot  water  pipes  and  a  kerosene 
lamp.  The  dates  should  be  washed  and  drained 
thoroughly,  if  they  are  nearly  ripe;  but  if  they  are 
still  hard,  as  is  usually  the  case,  they  should  be 
soaked  in  tepid  water  for  from  twenty-four  to  forty- 
eight  hours.  Then  they  are  placed  on  a  screen  in  the 
incubator,  with  a  pan  of  water  underneath,  and  the 
incubator  tightly  closed.  If  the  dates  were  picked 
when  hard,  from  eighteen  to  twenty-three  hours 
will  be  necessary,  at  a  temperature  of  110°  F.,  to 
ripen  them,  but  if  they  were  soft,  and  merely  picked 
because  suddenly  struck  by  a  rain,  a  few  hours  may 
be  sufficient  to  complete  the  process,  which  has  the 
advantage  of  freeing  them  from  all  insect  life,  as  well 
as  preventing  fermentation. 

Good  dates  are  undeniably  produced  by  this 
*Results  of  this  work  were  never  published  authoritatively. 


ARTIFICIAL    RIPENING  141 

process,  yet  the  flavor,  because  of  the  effect  of  heat 
on  their  syrup,  is  not  quite  like  that  of  a  naturally- 
ripened  date.  Hence  the  slower  ripening  without 
heat  is  more  satisfactory,  as  well  as  cheaper  and 
simpler,  when  it  can  be  practiced,  as  it  can  in  all 
ordinary  cases  in  a  favorable  climate,  such  as  that  of 
California  and  most  date-growing  regions.  It  has 
given  particularly  good  results  with  Deglet  Nur,  but 
seems  to  be  applicable  to  practically  all  varieties. 
It  is,  indeed,  used  by  Arabs  to  a  certain  extent  for  all 
varieties,  and  has  been  for  centuries,  as  it  has  been  for 
other  fruits  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  Swingle  de- 
scribes the  process,*  as  it  takes  place  naturally,  as 
follows : 

"My  attention  was  drawn  to  the  method  in  this 
manner:  Toward  the  end  of  November,  1910,  in 
coming  from  Mecca,  California,  to  Washington,  (D.C.), 
I  carried  in  my  valise  a  Deglet  Nur  cluster  loaded  with 
dates  not  ripe,  but  in  the  condition  most  favorable  to 
incubation.  I  was  ten  days  on  the  road,  from 
November  23  to  December  4,  and  during  that  time 
my  valise  was  either  in  a  sleeping  car  or  hotel,  both 
heated  by  steam  to  an  average  temperature  of  from 
68°  to  86°  F.  On  my  arrival  at  Washington  I  was 
astonished  to  find  in  my  valise,  not  yellowish,  bitter, 
and  uneatable  fruit  but,  on  the  contrary,  amber, 
translucent  dates  with  an  exquisite  taste  and  perfume, 
much  superior  to  those  ripened  by  incubation.  They 
had  even  that  characteristic  Deglet  Nur  flavor  so 
much  appreciated  by  lovers  of  that  variety. 

"The  idea  came  to  me  that  this  slow  ripening 
which  had  taken  place  in  my  valise  must  also  take 

*Swingle,  Walter  T.,  Maturation  Artifieielle  de  la  Datte  Deglet- 
Nour.  Comptes  Rendus  de  1' Academic  des  Sciences  de  Paris, 
t.  165,  p.  549,  seance  du  16  septembre,  1912. 


142  DATE    G.RO  WING 

place  to  a  certain  extent  in  the  boxes  of  dates  which  are 
sent  from  the  Algerian  or  Tunisian  Sahara  to  Biskra 
or  Marseille  for  packing  and  export.  These  boxes 
are  oblong  (16x32x64  cm.)  and  contain  both  loose 
dates  and  dates  on  the  branch.  They  are  carried  on 
camel-back  for  two  to  five  days,  according  to  the 
distance  of  the  oasis  from  the  railway.  Unquestion- 
ably the  temperature  in  these  boxes  is  high  enough 
to  permit  the  slow  ripening  of  the  fruit. 

"In  December,  1911,  I  accompanied  my  friend 
and  colleague  Dr.  Trabut  in  the  oases  around  Biskra 
to  study  the  date  palms  and  their  diseases.  Pierre 
Osval,  manager  of  the  oases  El  Amri  and  Foughala, 
west  of  Biskra,  showed  us  some  boxes  of  Deglet 
Nurs.  These  dates  had  been  put  in  the  box  when 
they  showed  more  or  less  translucent  spots  on  one 
side;  they  were  mostly  detached,  but  there  were  also 
some  in  clusters.  After  eight  or  ten  days  in  the 
storehouse,  the  fruit  had  become  ripe  and  left  nothing 
to  be  desired,  either  for  color  or  for  flavor. 

"What  Mr.  Osval  did  deliberately  takes  place  in 
most  of  the  shipments  of  dates  from  the  Sahara,  with- 
out anyone  paying  attention  to  it.  The  dates  must 
be  picked  before  they  are  entirely  ripe,  to  have  them 
reach  their  destination  in  good  condition;  they  then 
ripen  in  transit.* 

"The  ripening  of  dates,"  Mr.  Swingle  continues, 
"must  be  considered  composed  of  two  distinct  phases. 
The  first,  which  one  might  call  *  botanical  maturation, ' 
is  accomplished  as  soon  as  the  fruit  reaches  full  size 
and  has  the  seed  ripe.  Dates  at  this  stage  are  fat 
and  smooth,  yellow  or  red  according  to  variety. 
They  are  very  astringent  and  not  eatable. 

*  Algerian  Arabs  regularly  ripen  Kasbeh  (El  Kseba)  in  this  way. 


ARTIFICIAL    RIPENING  143 

"The  second  phase  is  the  real  ripening;  it  consists 
of  complex  chemical  transformations.  The  cane 
sugar  becomes  invert  sugar  and  the  free  tannin  is 
deposited  in  insoluble  form  in  the  giant  cells  which 
Tichomirow,  Kearney  and  Lloyd  have  described. 

"Botanical  maturationis  simply  accomplished  with 
the  aid  of  a  sufficient  amount  of  heat,  an  amount  so 
large  for  late  varieties  that  it  is  reached  only  in 
regions  having  an  extreme  desert  climate. 

"On  the  contrary,  in  the  real  ripening  humidity 
plays  an  essential  part.  One  cannot  ripen  dates 
artificially  either  by  incubation  or  by  the  slow  system, 
if  the  atmosphere  is  dry.  In  artificial  ripening,  the 
air  which  surrounds  the  dates  must  be  saturated 
with  the  humidity  which  the  dates  give  off  as  they  dry 
and  wrinkle.  The  packing  cases  in  which  Deglet 
Nur  dates  are  sent  from  the  oases  to  Biskra,  Algiers  or 
Marseille  contain  a  mixture  of  loose  dates  and  dates 
on  the  branch,  so  that  the  space  between  these 
branches  is  occupied  by  moist  air.  Deglet  Nur 
can  ripen  on  the  tree  in  many  oases  of  the  Algerian 
and  Tunisian  Sahara;  but  in  the  extreme  autumnal 
aridity  of  the  deserts  of  the  southwestern  United 
States,  it  can  not  do  so  on  the  tree.  The  dates 
reach  their  full  size  in  September  or  October,  then 
dry  on  the  tree,  wrinkling  more  or  less.  There 
results  a  date  which  more  resembles  dry  dates  like 
Makantishi  than  Deglet  Nur  as  it  is  known  in  Algeria 
and  Tunisia."* 

What  Mr.  Swingle  says  of  dates  shriveling  and 
hardening  on  the  palm  applies  especially  to  Deglet 
Nur,  yet  dates  of  all  varieties  have  been  found  to  give 

*Dates  in  such  a  condition  should  be  soaked  in  water  for  two 
days  and  then  treated  as  for  rapid  ripening. 


144  DATE    GROWING 

good  results  when  picked  early  and  allowed  to  ripen 
indoors.  There  is  no  secret  about  the  method,  and 
anyone  who  has  a  warm  storehouse  can  utilize  it 
for  that  purpose.  The  dates  are  picked  when  the 
first  soft  spots  appear,  and  packed  loosely  in  boxes 
which  will  hold  thirty  or  forty  pounds — cracker 
boxes  are  convenient  and  cheap.  Whole  clusters 
may  be  put  in  if  they  ripen  evenly;  otherwise  the  first 
dates  to  mature  will  have  to  be  picked  by  hand,  and 
the  rest  of  the  cluster  left  until  a  few  days  or  a  week 
later.  The  boxes  are  then  tightly  covered  and  placed 
in  the  storehouse,  which  at  sundown  is  closed  to 
prevent  the  entrance  of  night  air;  by  this  means  the 
temperature  in  Coachella  Valley  will  not  fall  much 
below  80°.  Under  favorable  conditions  three  or  four 
days  suffice  to  ripen  the  dates  perfectly;  furthermore, 
they  ripen  evenly  and  the  loss  on  a  bunch  need  not 
exceed  five  per  cent.  They  can  then  be  packed  in  the 
usual  way  and  shipped.  Pasteurization  is  desirable  in 
order  to  prevent  the  ravages  of  worms. 

Commercial  growers  could  well  afford  to  build 
packing  houses,  tightly  constructed  and  with  double 
walls  to  retain  the  heat  at  night. 

Artificial  ripening,  then,  far  from  being  a  costly 
and  delicate  process  to  worry  the  grower  and  eat 
into  his  profits,  is  a  simple  and  natural  operation 
which  will  save  him  many  cents  on  the  dollar.  For 
most  date-growing  regions,  including  California, 
dates  can  conveniently  and  economically  be  ripened 
with  the  slow  method,  which  requires  them  merely 
to  be  picked  at  the  right  time  and  held  for  a  few  days 
in  a  storehouse.  But  to  save  the  crop  if  it  is  hit  by 
a  rain,  or  to  meet  any  sudden  demand,  the  commercial 
grower  should  have  the  means  of  ripening  his  dates 


ARTIFICIAL    RIPENING  145 

through  rapid  incubation,  which  will  require  less  than 
a  day  and  cost  little. 

Finally,  in  localities  with  special  problems,  such 
as  the  Salt  River  Valley  of  Arizona,  special  means  may 
be  required,  such  as  the  use  of  carbon  dioxid.  This  will 
slightly  increase  the  cost  of  handling  the  crop,  but  if 
it  makes  date  growing  profitable  instead  of  unprofit- 
able, the  grower  need  not  complain;  and  in  most 
localities,  even  in  Arizona,  it  is  probable  that  suitable 
varieties  can  be  ripened  without  much  trouble. 


DISEASES  AND  PESTS 


CHAPTER  XI 
DISEASES  AND   PESTS 

The  date  palm,  in  comparison  with  most  other 
fruit  trees,  is  notably  free  from  disease.  The  un- 
observant Baghdad  peasant,  indeed,  declares,  "The 
palm  has  but  two  diseases — thirst  and  the  chirnlb, " 
the  latter  being  the  palm  borer,  whose  presence  is 
too  apparent  to  be  overlooked.  But  in  general  little 
expense  will  be  incurred  by  date  growers  in  suppressing 
diseases  or  pests,  and  the  possibilities  of  loss  in  this 
direction  are  very  slight. 

The  most  troublesome  enemies  are  two  scale 
insects,  which  are  to  be  found  throughout  the  whole 
date  growing  world,  but  which  nowhere  cause  wide- 
spread damage.  Their  discovery,  from  the  view- 
point of  modern  science,  is  due  to  Americans,  but  they 
were  discovered  and  named  by  Arab  scientists 
centuries  ago. 

The  Parlatoria  scale  (Parlatoria  blanchardi) 
was  introduced  into  the  United  States  on  the  first 
importation  of  offshoots,  made  in  1889.  It  is  a  gray 
insect  living  on  the  leaves  of  the  palm,  and  apparently 
confined  to  that  plant  alone;  it  remains  nearly  dormant 
during  the  winter,  but  is  active  all  summer,  at  the 
greatest  growing  period  of  the  palm.  It  damages  the 
tissues,  but  its  greatest  injury  is  in  covering  a  cluster 
of  dates  and  rendering  them  so  unsightly  that  they 
are  unsaleable. 

The  following  description  is  condensed  from 
Cockerell:  To  the  naked  eye,  the  scales  appear  as 
small  dark  gray  or  black  specks,  edged  with  white. 


150  DATE    GROWING 

If  the  scale  is  lifted  by  means  of  a  pin  or  the  point  of  a 
knife,  the  soft,  plump  and  juicy  female,  of  a  rose- 
pink  color,  is  found  underneath.  She  is  feebly 
segmented,  without  legs  or  any  other  conspicuous 
organs  except  a  structure  at  the  middle  of  the  anterior 
end,  which  is  the  mouth,  from  which  in  the  living 
insect  protrudes  the  tube  through  which  the  sap  of 
the  plant  is  sucked.  The  male  scales,  which  are 
rarely  seen,  are  much  narrower  and  smaller  than  those 
of  the  female.  About  the  middle  of  March  the 
female  begins  to  lay  eggs,  which  will  be  found  as 
minute,  oval  objects  underneath  the  scale  at  the 
posterior  end.  Only  a  few  are  produced  at  a  time 
and  the  total  number  is  small  as  compared  with  that 
of  most  scale  insects.  The  larvae  begin  to  hatch 
from  the  egg,  one  at  a  time,  about  April  1.  These 
are  very  minute  creatures,  of  a  pink  color,  with  legs 
and  antennae.  They  crawl  restlessly  about  for  some 
time,  and  then  settle  down  in  some  place  where  they 
remain  for  the  rest  of  their  lives.  The  male,  hatch- 
ing from  the  male  scales,  impregnates  the  female  and 
dies,  his  whole  life  being  probably  very  brief. 

Treatment  of  the  scale  by  burning  was  introduced 
by  the  University  of  Arizona  Experiment  Station, 
and  has  since  been  followed.  All  the  leaves  of  an 
infected  specimen  are  cut  closely  back,  and  the 
trunk  is  then  gone  over  with  a  gasoline  blow-torch. 
This  eradicates  the  scale,  but  the  palm  requires  a 
year  or  two  to  recover  from  the  shock  and  return  to 
normal  condition;  it  is,  therefore,  not  a  remedy  which 
appeals  to  the  commercial  date  grower. 

In  California  a  cresol  dip  is  now  used  on  all 
offshoots,  and  it  is  also  used  as  a  spray  for  older 
palms.  This  destroys  the  scale  so  that  no  danger 


DISEASES    AND    PESTS  151 

need  be  feared  from  it.  Reinfection  of  a  palm  that 
has  been  cleaned  up  is  easily  accomplished,  however, 
if  there  are  infected  palms  in  the  vicinity,  for  the 
scale  is  readily  carried  by  birds  and  animals,  or  even 
by  ants  and  other  insects. 

Eventually  a  parasite  may  be  found  which  will 
keep  the  Parlatoria  scale  in  check.  Several  California 
lady-birds  already  prey  upon  it,  while  in  Algeria  it  is 
attacked  and  perforated  extensively  by  a  parasite 
which  has  not  yet  been  made  the  subject  of  study.* 

This  scale,  therefore,  can  not  now  be  considered 
as  even  a  potential  menace  to  the  future  of  the  date 
industry  in  the  United  States. 

The  Marlatt  scale  (Phoenicococcus  marlatti) 
was  possibly  introduced  to  the  Unitecl  States  at  the 
same  time,  or  at  any  rate  on  the  following  importation 
of  offshoots  from  Africa.  The  insect  is  wine-colored, 
from  1  to  1 J4  mm-  long,  and  secretes  a  white,  waxy 
substance,  but  not  a  true  scale  like  the  Parlatoria. 
It  lives  usually  at  the  base  of  the  leaves,  inside  the 
palm,  where  it  is  almost  inaccessible,  and  is  most 
active  during  the  winter,  coming  out  at  intervals  to 
moult.  Its  life  cycle  seems  to  be  forty  days.t  It 
has  not  yet  received  the  study  it  deserves,  but  it 
seems  probable  that  when  its  habits  are  known  it 

*Scale  on  palms  imported  from  Algeria  by  the  West  India 
Gardens  in  1913  was  found  to  be  nearly  all  destroyed.  An  ant-like 
insect  similar  to  the  parasite  of  the  melon  aphis  was  observed  on  the 
palms,  and  may  be  the  parasite;  it  could  not  be  captured. 

fFor  a  more  detailed  discussion  of  the  technical  history  of  the 
two  scales,  see  "The  Scale  Insects  of  the  Date  Palm,"  by  T.  D.  A. 
Cockerell  and  "The  Extermination  of  Date  Palm  Scales,"  by  R.  H. 
Forbes.  Univ.  Ariz.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.,  Bui.  No.  56,  Tucson,  Sept.  23, 
1907.  Dr.  L.  Trabut  of  Algiers  describes  the  Phoenicococcus  in 
Note  sur  une  Maladie  du  Dattier.  Comptes  Rendus  de  I'Academie 
des  Sciences,  Paris.  T.  154,  p.  304.  Seance  du  29  Janvier,  1912. 


1«£  DATE    G.R  OWING 

can  be  destroyed  by  a  cresol  spray  at  the  time  it 
comes  into  the  open  to  moult.* 

When  a  palm  is  pulled  apart,  masses  of  the 
scale  may  be  seen  at  the  base  of  each  leaf,  sometimes 
in  such  dense  clusters  as  to  look  like  a  piece  of  raw 
beefsteak.  The  scale  doubtless  injures  the  palm  to 
a  certain  extent  by  draining  its  vitality,  and  it  is 
possible  that  some  cases  of  excessively  slow  growth, 
in  offshoots  imported  before  the  dip  was  put  into 
use,  were  due  to  the  presence  of  large  numbers  of 
Phoenicococcus.  Its  chief  ravage,  however,  is  rare, 
and  appears  on  the  fruit  cluster,  which  is  found,  when 
it  issues  from  the  palm,  to  be  shriveled  and  dry;  it  can 
not  produce  fruits  and  soon  dies.  The  Algerian 
natives  either  pull  this  out  bodily  or  treat  it  by 
putting  a  few  handfuls  of  salt  and  ashes  on  it;  neither 
method  is  satisfactory.  When  offshoots  are  cleaned 
before  planting,  such  cases  should  never  occur,  and 
under  present  conditions  it  may  fairly  be  said  that  the 
Marlatt  scale  is  not  a  menace  to  the  date  industry  in 
the  United  States;  that  it  can  be  easily  held  in  check, 
and  can  probably  be  eradicated  altogether  without 
a  great  deal  of  trouble. 

No  natural  enemy  of  the  Marlatt  scale  has  been 
found. 

At  present  all  date  palm  offshoots  brought  into 
the  United  States  must  be  dipped  in  a  cresol  wash 
before  they  are  planted.  The  period  of  immersion  is 
fifteen  minutes,  followed  by  twenty-four  hours 
drying  and  a  second  immersion  of  the  same  length. 
This  practically  destroys  the  scale;  if  a  few  individuals 
should  survive  at  the  bottom  of  a  dense  mass,  they  can 

*As  the  cresol  dip  used  to  combat  these  scales  is  a  proprietary 
article,  its  formula  has  not  been  made  public. 


l! 


Q  S 


J81 


DISEASES    AND    PESTS  153 

be  killed  by  spray  the  following  year,  when  they 
appear  in  the  open  to  moult.  Care  should  be  taken 
to  have  the  dip  well  emulsified,  otherwise  it  will 
burn  the  tissues  of  the  plant.  Apart  from  destroying 
the  scale,  it  is  a  desirable  treatment  for  all  offshoots, 
as  it  removes  bacteria  which  might  later  cause  fer- 
mentation or  decay,  and  gives  the  young  plant  the 
best  possible  start  in  life. 

For  older  palms  which  are  infected,  the  best 
treatment  is  a  thorough  spray  with  the  same  liquid, 
repeated  several  times,  if  necessary,  at  intervals  of 
a  month.  Various  other  treatments  have  been  used, 
but  none  of  them  gives  much  promise  of  value;  some 
of  them,  such  as  carbon  bisulphid,  kill  the  palm  much 
more  quickly  than  the  scale. 

Date  palms  in  moist  regions  are  sometimes 
thickly  covered  with  a  fungus,  Graphiola  phoenicis, 
which  injures  the  leaf  seriously  by  killing  parenchy- 
matous  cells,  displacing  the  bundles  of  schlerenchyma 
and  rupturing  the  epidermis  and  hypoderm.  Frank* 
describes  it  as  follows:  "The  fruit  bodies  appear  as 
scattered,  hard,  dark  swellings  about  1.5  mm.  across, 
and  are  sometimes  surrounded  by  a  clearer  border 
showing  the  part  of  the  leaf  tissue  containing  the 
mycelium  of  the  fungus."  It  is  common  on  the 
roast  of  Southern  California,  but  as  it  can  not  tolerate 
an  arid  climate  it  is  unknown  in  the  date-growing 
regions  of  the  interior.  On  date  palms  in  Egypt 
and  the  West  Indies,  however,  it  has  been  the  most 
serious  disease;  and  it  appeared  at  Baghdad  a  few 

*Die  Pilzparasitaren  Krankheiten  der  Pflanzen,  p.  127. 
Breslau,  1896.  For  a  more  technical  description  see  Tubeuf  and 
Smith,  Diseases  of  Plants,  p.  325. 


154  DATE    GROWING 

years  ago,  causing  real  damage  until  it  was  checked.* 
Fortunately,  it  yields  readily  to  a  spray  of  Bordeaux 
mixture. 

The  coconut  palm  borer,  (Rhyncophorus 
ferrugineus)  has  killed  date  palms  in  India  and,  to  a 
less  extent,  in  Mesopotamia — its  presence  at  Baghdad 
under  the  name  of  chirnib  has  already  been  mentioned.! 
It  works  slowly,  but  appears  without  warning.  The 
Baghdadis  know  of  no  remedy  for  it,  but  consider 
that  the  palm  is  riot  liable  to  attack  if  its  trunk  is 
kept  well  cleared  of  decaying  fibre  and  leaf  stalks. 
In  India  the  common  remedy  is  to  put  a  handful  of 
salt  on  the  place  where  the  insect  is  working,  as  soon 
as  its  presence  is  noticed  by  the  dying  of  some  of 
the  leaves;  at  other  times  the  native  takes  a  fine 
iron  hook  with  long  handle  and  works  around  the 
trunk  of  the  palm  until  he  finds  the  larva  and  drags 
him  out. 

This  borer  has  not  yet  been  introduced  to  the 
United  States,  and  there  is  little  danger  of  its  being 
introduced,  but  the  southern  states  already  have  two 
representatives  of  the  same  genus — namely,  R. 
cruentatus  and  R.  palmarum.  They  are  found  as 
far  west  as  Texas,  and  particularly  attack  the  palmetto, 
but  will  be  likely  to  attack  the  date  palm  sooner  or 
later.  They  are  not  to  be  feared  as  a  serious  enemy. 
When  they  attack  a  palmetto  grove,  the  best  treat- 

*Wajfyyeh  Bey,  Director  of  Agriculture  at  Baghdad,  describes 
the  malady  in  Loghat  al  Arab,  July  1,  1912,  p.  17,  but  does  not 
identify  it.  He  suggests  lysol  or  sulphate  of  copper  as  the  best 
remedy.  My  own  identification  is  tentative;  there  are  certain  differ- 
ences of  habit  between  the  Baghdad  fungus  and  Graphiola  phoenicis 
of  California,  and  the  former  may  turn  out  to  be  something  different. 

fl  did  not  see  the  borer  itself  at  Baghdad,  and  identify  it  only 
by  descriptions  from  native  friends,  and  the  traces  of  its  destructive 
work. 


DISEASES    AND    PESTS  155 

ment  is  to  cut  down  one  of  the  trees;  its  sap  flows  out 
and  ferments,  attracting  all  the  borers  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, who  drink  themselves  to  death.  But  this  is 
hardly  a  satisfactory  treatment  in  a  date  palm 
plantation. 

Locusts  or  grasshoppers  sometimes  visit  a  palm 
grove  with"  destructive  effects.  It  is  reported*  that 
when  they  appeared  at  Tulare,  California,  in  1891, 
they  left  adjoining  fields  of  grain  and  a  variety  of 
other  tender  plants  to  feed  upon  the  leaves  of  the 
palm.  In  Algeria  the  natives  have  an  idea  that  they 
prefer  the  leaves  of  seedlings  to  those  of  the  standard 
varieties  which  are  propagated  by  offshoots.  With 
the  development  of  modern  methods  of  fighting  them, 
there  is  little  to  fear  from  them  as  a  menace  to  the 
date  industry  in  the  United  States. 

Rats  sometimes  destroy  part  of  the  crop,  of 
which  they  seem  to  be  particularly  fond.  A  horde 
of  migratory  rats  which  visited  the  date  orchard  at 
Tempe,  Arizona,  a  few  years  ago,  caused  great 
damage.  At  Baghdad  a  squirrel-like  rodent,  has  the 
same  habit,  and  the  growers  protect  a  choice  tree  from 
him  by  putting  a  collar  of  tin  a  foot  wide  around  it,  at 
a  height  of  three  feet  from  the  ground.  This  would 
probably  be  an  effective  treatment  here,  and  would 
be  a  permanent  protection. 

Gophers  are  one  of  the  most  troublesome  pests 
in  some  regions,  and  seem  particularly  fond  of  off- 
shoots. Poison,  traps,  and  gopher  guns  can  all  be 
used.  In  other  districts  jackrabbits  are  to  be  feared, 
and  if  one  lives  near  them  he  should,  if  possible, 
surround  young  offshoots  with  a  rabbit -tight  fence. 

*Shinn,  C.  H.     "The  African  Date  Palm,"  in  Rep.  Agr.  Exp. 
Sta.,  Univ.  CaL,  1891-2,  p.  144. 


156  DATE    GROWING 

In  India  ants  have  proved  a  menace  to  palms,  the 
white  ant  being  particularly  dreaded.  Bonavia  says 
the  best  protection  is  constant  irrigation.  In  Algeria, 
too,  an  ant  sometimes  swarms  up  the  palm  and 
destroys  the  terminal  bud;  the  natives  usually  fight 
him  with  fire.  I  doubt  if  ants  will  ever  prove  a  pest 
in  the  United  States. 

Birds,  bees,  and  wasps  all  attack  the  ripe  fruit  if 
it  is  allowed  to  hang  on  the  tree  after  it  becomes  soft. 
With  artificial  ripening  they  will  cause  little  damage; 
under  other  circumstances  a  bag  of  cheap  cheese- 
cloth put  over  each  cluster  will  prove  an  absolute 
safeguard. 

This  exhausts  the  list  of  principal  diseases  and 
pests  of  the  palm,*  but  there  are  certain  troublesome 
visitors  of  the  stored  dates  which  must  be  noticed. 
Foremost  of  these  is  the  fig  moth,  (Ephestia  cautella) 
and  the  similar  Indian-meal  moth,  (Plodia  inter- 
punctella).  The  former  is  the  one  whose  traces 
will  be  found  in  the  imported  dates  of  commerce,  as 
well  as  in  Smyrna  figs,  cacao  beans,  and  other  com- 
modities; the  latter  has  proved  a  particular  pest  in 
Arizona.  Their  habits  are  so  much  alike  that  I 
will  treat  them  as  one.f 

The  small,  gray  moth  (its  wing  expanse  is  14 
to  20  mm.)  lays  its  white  eggs  on  the  fruit,  or  in  the 
basal  end,  if  the  calyx  has  been  removed.  The  eggs 
soon  turn  yellow  and  sometimes  orange,  a  few  days 
before  hatching.  The  larva  when  first  hatched  is 

*The  effect  of  excess  of  alkali  might  be  considered  a  disease;  it 
causes  the  palm  to  stop  growth  and  its  leaves  to  shrivel  and  change 
color. 

fFull  details  are  given  in  "The  Fig  Moth,"  by  F.  H.  Chittenden 
and  E.  G.  Smyth.  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agric.,  Bur.  Entomol.,  Bui.  No. 
104.  Washington,  1911. 


DISEASES    AND    PESTS  157 

delicately  white,  about  a  millimeter  long;  it  gradually 
reaches  a  length  of  10  mm.,  and  takes  on  a  dirty 
whitish,  very  pale  greenish  or  very  light  buff  color  with, 
an  overlay  of  rather  dull  pinkish  tints  which  are 
arranged  somewhat  like  longitudinal  strides  on  the 
back.  It  crawls  about,  looking  for  a  place  to  pupate, 
and  usually  works  into  the  seed  cavity  of  the  date, 
where  its  excrements  will  be  found.  In  dates  there 
are  probably  four  generations  a  year.  All  varieties 
are  attacked,  but  the  softest  ones  by  preference.  At 
Baghdad  the  growers  have  the  idea  that  the  dry 
date  Zahidi  is  less  attacked  than  any  other. 

The  best  protection  against  this  pest  is  to  have 
a  packing-house  that  is  reasonably  insect-proof,  and 
to  fumigate  it  at  the  beginning  of  the  packing  season 
with  hydrocyanic  acid  gas  or,  in  the  case  of  small 
inclosures,  with  bisulphid  of  carbon.  From  twenty- 
four  to  forty-eight  hours'  exposure  is  desirable. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  dates  themselves  may  be 
treated,  and  certainly  should  be  treated  unless  it  is 
certain  that  they  are  to  be  sold  and  consumed  without 
much  delay.  In  the  case  of  dry  dates  they  could  be 
scalded  in  boiling  water  without  injury.  Other  dates 
can  be  pasteurized  by  dry  heat,  three  hours  at  a 
temperature  of  from  180°  to  190°  F.  One  of  the  best 
preventive  measures,  however,  is  to  see  that  the  calyx, 
or  cap  to  which  the  stem  is  attached,  at  the  base  of 
the  date,  is  left  on  the  fruit.  Fruit  matured  by  the 
quick  artificial  process  will  not  need  to  be  treated. 

In  Arizona  a  minute  beetle,  Carpophyllus 
dimidiatuSy  has  caused  trouble  of  the  same  kind  as 
that  due  to  the  moths.  He  is  so  small  that  he  can 
pass  through  an  ordinary  window  screen.  The 
measures  given  above  will  prove  equally  effective  to 


158  DATE    GROWING 

destroy  him  and  all  other  insects  that  infect  the  stored 
fruit. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  desired  that  every  grower 
should  make  it  a  point  of  honor  not  to  put  any  dates 
on  the  market  that  are  wormy,  or  that  have  not  been 
treated  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  it  reasonably 
certain  that  worms  will  not  appear.  Only  by  such 
co-operation  can  the  date  industry  of  the  United 
States  reach  the  position  to  which  it  is  entitled. 

In  conclusion,  let  me  again  call  attention  to  the 
fact  that  freedom  from  scale  is  one  of  the  principal 
merits  of  seedling  palms.  Each  one  starts  in  life 
clean  and  sound,  and  with  a  little  care  they  can  be 
kept  so.  The  grower  can  then  propagate  any  good 
ones,  and  introduce  the  offshoots  into  any  locality  he 
likes,  without  fear  of  hindrance  from  quarantine  laws. 
He  cannot  do  this  with  imported  offshoots  until  he 
has  held  them  for  a  year.  It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose, 
however,  that  a  tree  is  free  from  scale  merely  because 
it  is  a  seedling :  infestation  can  easily  take  place.  An 
examination  of  a  number  of  worthless  seedlings,  when 
they  are  removed  from  the  plantation,  will  give  one  a 
fairly  accurate  idea  as  to  whether  he  has  scale  or  not. 
If  he  has,  he  will  be  subject  to  quarantine  laws,  but 
not  to  any  other  disabilities,  for  it  has  been  proved  that 
there  is  no  menace  to  the  profits  of  the  date  industry, 
in  either  of  the  scale  insects,  under  present  conditions. 


THE  CLASSIFICATION  OF 
DATES 


TO    INSURE    A    GOOD    CROP 

Arab  date  growers  often  have  a  sheep's  skull  on  a  pole  in  the  plantation; 
it  averts  evil  eye  and  other  disasters. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
THE  CLASSIFICATION  OF  DATES 

The  question  of  variety  is  as  important  with  dates 
as  with  other  commercial  fruits.  In  America  there 
are  nearly  400  varieties,  from  all  parts  of  the  date- 
growing  world.  It  is  therefore  necessary  for  the 
grower  to  get  an  intelligent  idea  of  the  characteristics 
of  dates  of  different  countries,  and  the  characteristics 
to  be  sought  in  those  he  chooses  for  his  own  plantation. 

Algeria  and  Tunisia  have  been  the  most- worked 
field  for  varieties,  up  to  the  present.  These  regions 
are  undoubtedly  characterized  by  a  greater  number 
of  insignificant  varieties  than  any  other  of  the  orient: 
the  number  in  the  Ziban*  alone  is  sometimes 
estimated  as  high  as  six  hundred.  Of  course,  most  of 
them  are  nothing  more  than  chance  seedlings,  which  are. 
confined  to  the  plantation  of  one  man,  and  frequently 
to  one  tree.  Such  dates  have  no  importance  in  their  own 
country,  and  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  they  could 
ever  have  in  ours. 

Algeria  and  Tunisia  are  further  characterized 
by  the  large  proportion  of  their  varieties  which  are 
dry,  and  yet  again  by  the  fact  that  most  of  their  dry 
dates  are  hard  and  of  inferior  quality,  compared  with 
the  dry  dates  of  other  regions. 

Finally,  the  dates  of  these  two  countries  are 
prevailingly  late.  Deglet  Nur  is  one  of  the  latest 

*The  Ziban  (pi.  of  Zab,  oasis)  is  the  region  in  the  northern  Sahara 
of  Algeria,  of  which  Biskra  is  the  center.  It  contains  600,000  palms; 
most  of  the  Deglet  Nurs  and  many  other  good  varieties  in  the  United 
States  have  come  from  there.  South  of  it  is  the  Oued  Righ  or  Rirh, 
with  1,000,000  palms,  the  native  home  and  chief  center  of  Deglet  N6r. 


162  DATEGROWING 

dates  known,  and  no  early  ones  are  to  be  found  there, 
as  compared  with  Arabia  or  Egypt.  In  some  ways, 
then,  Algeria  and  Tunisia  are  the  least  promising  of 
any  of  the  great  date  growing  regions,  as  a  source  of 
choice  varieties  for  the  United  States. 

Egypt  contains  more  than  10,000,000  palms,  but 
seven-tenths  of  them  are  in  Upper  Egypt,  where 
they  are  scattered  over  so  much  territory  that  they 
are  difficult  of  access.  Furthermore,  these  upper 
Nile  dates  are  practically  all  dry,  a  fact  that  was 
noted  even  by  Pliny,*  who  ascribes  it  to  the  climate. 
Schweinfurth  says,f  "In  the  north  Nubian  Nile 
valley  from  Berber  to  Aswan  there  are  only  dry 
dates  which,  however,  in  flavor,  aroma,  and  sugar 
content,  as  well  as  in  size,  seem  to  surpass  those  of 
all  other  regions."  These  Nubian  dates  have  not 
yet  fruited  in  the  United  States. 

In  the  Egyptian  delta,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
dates  are  large,  soft,  and  dark  in  color,  while  rather 
coarse  in  flavor.  They  offer  great  commercial 
possibilities,  and  some  of  them  have  made  excellent 
records  in  the  United  States. 

Dates  of  Oman,  on  the  eastern  coast  of  Arabia, 
are  earlier  than  those  of  any  other  region  I  know; 
half  a  dozen  varieties  can  be  found  which  ripen  in  the 
latter  half  of  May,  and  as  many  more  in  June,  while 
the  principal  crop  is  in  August.  They  are  pre- 
vailingly soft. 

To  the  north  of  this,  from  the  province  of  Hasa, 
formerly  called  Hajar,  come  some  of  the  best  dates  of 
Arabia,  including  the  famous  Khalaseh.  Palgrave, 
the  only  traveler  who  has  given  us  a  careful  account  of 

"Hist.  Nat.,  Bk.  XIH,  ch.  9. 

fGartenflora,  loc.  cit. 


THE   CLASSIFICATION   OF  DATES  163 

the  region,  says  that  the  variety  Rakab,  also  limited 
to  that  province,  is  worthy  of  the  first  rank  anywhere 
else.*  Ever  since  the  Arabic  "Epoch  of  Ignorance" 
(i.e.,  before  Muhammad,  early  in  the  sixth  century 
A.D.)  the  dates  of  this  region  have  been  the  symbols 
of  excellence  among  Arabs,  as  they  still  are:  one  of 
the  commonest  proverbs,  implying  that  a  man  takes 
useless  pains,  is  "Like  merchandising  dates  to 
Hajar" — it  is  the  exact  equivalent  of  our  "carrying 
coals  to  Newcastle,  "t  The  dates  of  Hasa  appear  to 
be  prevailingly  soft  and  early. 

At  Busreh,  the  greatest  commercial  date-growing 
region  of  the  world,  with  not  less  than  8,000,000 
palms  closely  grouped  together  on  the  combined 
Tigris  and  Euphrates  Rivers,  the  dates  are  prevailingly 
soft,  of  medium  size,  and  fairly  early.  From  a 
commercial  point  of  view  they  are  excellent,  but  for 
quality  hardly  equal  those  of  Baghdad.  The  number 
of  varieties  cultivated  at  Busreh  is  probably  smaller 
than  in  any  other  important  center  of  culture,  for 
commercial  requirements  have  kept  the  grower 
confined  to  those  dates  which  would  always  sell  well, 
and  that  necessitated  a  uniform  pack  in  which 
miscellaneous  varieties,  even  if  intrinsically  good,  had 
no  place. 

The  dates  of  Baghdad  are  pretty  equally  divided 
between  dry  and  soft,  and  they  excel  in  each  branch. 
They  ripen  fairly  early,  and  are  of  moderate  size;  but 
the  dry  dates  average  much  larger  than  do  the  dry 

*Palgrave,  W.  G.  "Narrative  of  a  Year's  Journey  in  Central 
and  Eastern  Arabia."  Vol.  II,  p.  172.  London,  1865. 

f  Another  version  of  the  proverb  substitutes  the  name  of  Khaybar, 
an  oasis  east  of  Madina;  but  Doughty,  one  of  the  two  Europeans 
who  have  visited  it,  does  not  speak  of  its  dates  with  any  enthusiasm, 
although  he  admits  that  they  are  "not  unwholesome."  Doughty, 
C.  M.  Travels  in  Arabia  Deserta,  vol.  II,  p.  77.  Cambridge,  1888. 


164  DATE    GROWING 

dates  of  North  Africa,  while  they  are  softer  and  more 
agreeable  to  the  palate  as  well.  Asharasi  is  probably 
as  good  a  dry  date  as  the  world  has  produced,  and 
there  are  half  a  dozen  soft  dates  which  are  as  good  as 
anything  in  North  Africa,  with  the  possible  exception 
of  Deglet  Nur. 

The  dates  of  the  interior  of  Arabia  are  not 
sufficiently  well  known  to  us  to  allow  of  being  broadly 
characterized,  but  from  accounts  of  native  acquaint- 
ances I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  dates  of  Madina, 
the  center  of  culture,  average  up  with  those  of 
Baghdad. 

The  scientific  grower  in  the  United  States  should 
have  a  variety  of  sorts,  but  he  must  naturally  pick 
them  out  with  intelligence.  If  he  cultivates  Deglet 
Nur  he  needs  no  more  late  dates,  and  should  off- 
set it  with  some  of  the  early  ones  from  the  Persian 
Gulf  or  the  Egyptian  delta.  If  he  has  early  varieties 
he  should  add  some  of  the  later  ones  from  North 
Africa.  Other  things  being  equal,  an  early  date  is 
to  be  preferred  to  a  late  one,  because  its  fruit  will  get 
on  the  market  before  any  foreign  fruit  can  arrive  and 
lower  prices  by  competition. 

Furthermore,  he  should  not  confine  himself 
exclusively  either  to  dry  dates  or  soft  dates,  for,  while 
the  latter  is  the  type  now  familiar  to  the  American 
public,  the  dry  sorts  rarely  fail  to  make  friends,  and 
there  seems  every  reason  to  suppose  that  a  market 
can  be  made  for  them  without  difficulty.  On  this 
point  the  grower  is  as  competent  to  decide  for  himself 
as  is  anyone  else  for  him;  but  it  is  worth  noting  that 
when  samples  of  dates  were  offered  to  visitors,  at  an 
exhibition  in  Coachella  Valley,  and  each  was  asked  to 
express  his  preference,  sixty  per  cent  of  them  indicated 


THE   CLASSIFICATION   OF  DATES  165 

that  they  liked  the  dry  dates  best.  It  is  rare  to  find 
a  person  who  does  not  like  dry  dates  at  the  first  taste, 
and  they  have  the  advantage  that  they  can  be  eaten 
in  great  quantities  without  cloying,  while  many 
cannot  eat  more  than  a  few  soft  dates,  on  account  of 
their  great  sugar  content. 

There  are  some  dates — notably  Zahidi  and 
Tafazwin, — which  are  either  soft  or  dry,  according 
to  the  way  they  are  handled.  If  a  grower  has  any 
doubt  about  the  merits  of  dry  dates,  he  might  select 
one  of  these  intermediate  varieties,  which  he  could 
sell  as  a  dry  date  if  the  market  demanded  dry  dates, 
or  as  a  soft  date  if  that  seemed  to  be  preferred.  The 
number  of  dry  dates  which  can,  if  properly  handled, 
be  made  soft  dates,  is  probably  much  greater  than  is 
ordinarily  supposed,  and  it  points  out  forcibly  the 
fact  that  the  distinction  between  the  two  types  is 
not  hard  and  fast,  but  that  a  date  can  cross  from  one 
side  to  the  other,  or  remain  almost  on  the  dividing 
line,  as  the  grower  wills.  To  make  an  intermediate 
class  of  "semi-dry"  dates  is  certainly  a  useless  work, 
for  it  is  difficult  enough  to  make  a  date  stay  in  one 
of  the  two  great  classifications,  and  an  intermediate 
stage  merely  results  in  profitless  confusion.  The 
so-called  semi-dry  classification  has  been  particularly 
brought  into  disrepute  by  attempts  to  include  in  it 
such  dates  as  Deglet  Nur,  which  is  a  typically  soft 
date.  When  this  word  "semi-dry"  is  dropped  from 
date  terminology,  much  of  the  present  confusion  will 
cease. 

One  of  the  most  important  characteristics  for 
the  grower  to  consider,  when  adding  a  new  variety 
to  his  plantation,  is  the  keeping  quality  of  the  date. 
Some  dates  are  delicious  when  fresh,  but  never  get 


166  DATE    CROWING 

beyond  that  stage;  they  are  then  called  "rutab" 
by  the  Arabs,  and  the  word  is  so  useful  that  it  may 
have  to  be  borrowed  by  the  English  language.* 
Others  pass  through  the  rutab  stage  and  then  cure 
themselves  on  the  tree  into  good  dates  for  packing  or 
shipping,  while  a  third  class,  including  many  dry 
dates,  is  never  fit  to  eat  while  soft,  but  gradually 
dries  and  sweetens  into  an  eatable  fruit. 

The  second  class  is  obviously  the  most  profitable, 
other  things  being  equal.  The  grower  can  have 
the  fresh  dates  on  his  table,  or  sell  them  in  that 
condition  if  the  market  is  good;  otherwise  he  can  let 
them  cure  and  sell  them  as  cured  dates,  such  as  are 
ordinarily  seen  on  the  market. 

The  third  class  is  worth  growing  if  the  dates 
themselves  are  good,  for  the  principal  market  for 
dates  is  certain  to  be  always  for  cured  ones,  since 
fresh  ones  will  not  keep  or  ship  so  well.  The  first 
class,  which  is  good  fresh  but  immediately  begins 
to  ferment  and  rot,  is  to  be  avoided  (except  to  provide 
fruit  for  home  use)  unless  it  is  particularly  early. 
In  that  case — and  most  of  the  very  early  dates  are 
rutab  dates  pure  and  simple — the  precocity  is  worth 
some  sacrifice,  and  as  they  will  come  on  the  market 
when  it  is  most  eager  for  dates,  they  will  always  find  a 
sale. 

One  must  regard  with  distrust  any  arbitrary 
statements  as  to  the  keeping  qualities  of  a  variety  of 
date,  for  it  necessarily  depends  on  the  grower's  treat- 
ment of  the  fruit.  One  man  will  make  a  given  date 
keep  six  months;  in  the  hands  of  another  it  will 
spoil  in  two  weeks  after  it  has  been  taken  from  the 

*The  word  means  "moist,"  originally.     It  is  often  seen  mis- 
spelled retob,  rattab,  etc. 


THE   CLASSIFICATION   OF  DATES  167 

tree.  This  is  particularly  true  of  soft  dates  like 
Ghars,  and  the  fact  that  one  grower  has  found  that 
it  did  not  keep  well  must  not  be  allowed  to  condemn  it 
without  a  fair  trial. 

Arabs  have  an  interesting  classification  of  dates 
into  hot  and  cold,  according  to  whether  a  long  con- 
tinued diet  of  them  "burns"  the  stomach  or  not.* 
This  has  some  importance  to  a  people  who  eat  three 
or  four  pounds  a  day  for  six  months  at  a  stretch — 
for  the  American  public  it  has  none.  In  Mesopotamia, 
Khustawf  is  universally  considered  the  coldest  date 
known;  Barban,  at  Baghdad,  is  considered  the  hottest, 
but  is  valued  nevertheless  because  it  ripens  so  early. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  not  only  most  varieties,  but  most 
choice  varieties,  are  considered  hot.  Among  the  cold 
ones  are  Khadhrawi,  Sukkari,  Shukkar,  Amir  Hajj, 
and  Sukkar  Nabat,  while  Maktum  and  Badrahi  are 
placed  in  an  intermediate  class,  neither  hot  nor  cold, 
but  satisfactory  for  general  use.  Asharasi,  Tabirzal, 
Halawi,  Zahidi,  Barhi,  and  most  of  the  other  dates  of 
sufficient  importance  to  receive  any  classification, 
are  considered  hot.  In  North  Africa  Deglet  Nur 
and  Thuri  would  perhaps  be  considered  the  hottest, 
and  Ghars,  Yatimeh  and  Makantishi  the  coldest. 

Since  dates  grow  under  a  wide  variety  of 
conditions,  one  might  easily  classify  them  as  to 
whether  they  come  from  a  sandy,  clayey,  or  loamy 
soil,  but  this  seems  to  me  not  worth  while,  since  it 
has  so  little  bearing  on  their  behavior  in  America. 
Dates  from  the  heavy  adobe  silt  of  Busreh  seem  to  do 
fully  as  well  in  a  light  sandy  loam  in  Coachella  Valley 
as  they  do  in  their  native  home.  The  question  of 

*Attention  was  first  called  to  this  classification  by  C.  Niebuhr 
in  his  "Voyage  en  Arabie,"  vol.  II.    Amsterdam,  1776-80. 


168  DATE    GROWING 

sensitiveness  to  frost  cannot  be  reduced  to  formula, 
either,  since  it  depends  on  the  variety,  and  not  on  the 
temperature  of  the  region  from  which  it  comes.  In 
the  United  States,  two  Algerian  palms,  or  two 
Egyptian  palms,  or  two  Arabian  palms,  standing  side 
by  side,  will  often  show  entirely  different  resistance. 

The  grower  who  wishes  to  pick  out  a  new  variety 
for  his  plantation,  and  to  do  so  intelligently,  should 
therefore  consider  his  own  needs,  and  then  find  a 
variety  to  fit  them,  in  the  index  of  varieties  which 
forms  Part  II  of  this  book.  He  will  need  to  decide 
whether  he  wants  an  early  or  a  late  date,  a  soft  or  a 
dry  date,  a  large  or  a  small  date,  one  of  dark  or  one  of 
lighter  color,  one  that  will  be  best  when  fresh  or  one 
that  is  pre-eminently  a  cured  date,  adapted  to  shipping 
long  distances  and  keeping  many  months.  Having 
decided  what  he  wants,  he  will  not  have  much 
difficulty  in  finding  a  variety  to  correspond,  from 
the  number  of  excellent  dates  which  have  already 
been  introduced  into  the  United  States  from  the  best 
date-growing  regions  of  the  Old  World. 

Descriptions  of  any  fruit  are  always  unsatisfac- 
tory, as  they  do  not  present  a  complete  picture  to  the 
mind  of  the  reader,  but  there  are  a  few  points  in 
regard  to  date  descriptions  which  are  so  misleading 
that  the  reader  should  be  put  on  his  guard  against 
them.  First  is  that  characteristic  "soft  and  sticky" 
which  is  ascribed  to  many  varieties.  It  is  misleading, 
for  it  depends  entirely  on  the  treatment  of  the  fruit. 
A  date  may  be  soft  and  sticky,  or  it  may  be  so  firm 
and  clean  that  it  can  be  handled  without  soiling  white 
kid  gloves,  yet  it  may  be  the  same  date,  with  different 
treatment  in  curing,  according  to  the  usage  it  received 
from  different  individuals.  Most  of  the  Deglet  Niirs 


RAVAGES   OF   PALM   BORER 

Palms  at  Baghdad  killed  by  Rhyncophorus  ferrugineus  (?);  two  species 
of  same  genus  occur  in  America. 


THE   CLASSIFICATION  OF  DATES  169 

sold  in  the  markets  of  Algeria  are  disgustingly  soft 
and  sticky,  but  under  the  skilful  care  of  an  intelligent 
planter  they  can  be  turned  out  firm  and  unobjection- 
able. The  same  thing  is  true  of  the  Ghars,  or  any 
other  soft  date  that  might  be  mentioned  Let  no  one, 
then,  condemn  a  date  because  he  has  heard  it  called 
soft  and  sticky,  since  it  is  the  packer's  fault,  not  the 
date's. 

Again,  the  presence  of  fibre  or  "rag"  about  the 
seed  is  an  objectionable  characteristic,  but  it  depends 
largely  on  the  stage  of  maturity  at  which  the  date 
was  picked,  and  even,  sometimes,  on  the  age  of  the 
tree.  The  first  Manakhir  dates  produced  in  the 
United  States  were  excessively  stringy,  but  this  defect 
has  been  becoming  less  with  each  successive  harvest. 
Samples  of  a  date  described  by  one  man  may  be 
fibrous,  while  those  seen  by  another  observer  may  be 
perfectly  unobjectionable.  One  should  be  slow  in 
drawing  conclusions  on  this  point. 

The  flavor  and  quality  of  dates  is  a  point  on 
which  it  is  dangerous  for  any  man  to  pronounce 
judgment  for  others.  Of  course,  some  dates  can  be 
unhesitatingly  declared  good  and  others  bad,  but 
between  good  dates  it  is  impossible  to  lay  down  any 
binding  decision.  One  man  likes  Deglet  Nur  better 
than  any  other  date  because  of  its  fine  flavor;  another 
says  that  he  does  not  like  dates  anyhow,  and  prefers 
Deglet  Nur  to  any  other  because  of  its  lack  of  flavor. 
Therefore,  if  one  says  a  date  is  of  good  quality,  that 
is  all  that  can  be  expected;  the  investigator  must  not 
take  any  opinion  beyond  that  without  a  good  deal  of 
reserve. 

The  characteristics  of  the  seed  are  fairly  constant, 
and  form  one  of  the  most  useful  means  of  determining 


170  DATE    Gfl  OWING 

the  variety  of  a  date,  particularly  with  specimens 
which  have  been  preserved  so  long  as  to  have  changed 
their  appearance.  Furthermore,  some  date  descrip- 
tions are  made  from  fruit  taken  directly  off  the  tree 
(which  is  the  proper  way)  and  others  from  fruit  that 
has  been  cured,  and  these  naturally  differ;  the  seed, 
however,  remains  as  an  unchanged  factor.  Arabs 
have  long  recognized  the  value  of  the  seed  for  this 
purpose,  and  one  of  the  famous  incidents  of 
Muhammad's  military  career  relates  to  an  expedition 
which  he  made  to  cut  off  a  caravan  from  Madina. 
After  some  scouting,  the  tracks  of  a  caravan  were 
crossed,  but  it  was  impossible  to  say  whether  that 
was  the  one  which  they  sought.  Finally  an  Arab 
dismounted  and  pursued  the  track  a  short  distance 
until  he  came  upon  some  camel  dung,  in  which  he 
found  a  date  seed.  He  examined  it  a  moment  and  said 
without  hesitation,  "They  have  come  from  Madina." 
The  caravan  was  followed  and  captured.* 

In  addition  to  the  color  and  general  outlines,  the 
position  of  the  germ  pore  and  the  appearance  of  the 
ventral  channel  should  be  noted. 

Every  grower  should  know  the  dates  of  his  own 
plantation.  If  he  has  any  good  ones  which  cannot 
be  identified,  he  should  make  a  careful  description 
of  them,  even  if  they  are  seedlings.  It  will  always 
serve  as  a  check  on  accuracy  in  the  future,  when  the 
palm  may  have  been  propagated  widely  by  means  of 
its  offshoots. 

*Told  in  the  famous  classical  encyclopedia  of  natural  history, 
Hayet  al  Haywanat. 


PROFITS  OF  DATE  GROWING 


CHAPTER  XIII 
PROFITS  OF  DATE  GROWING 

No  question  of  the  industry  is  more  interesting 
than  the  possible  or  probable  profits  to  be  derived; 
yet  none  is  less  susceptible  of  a  definite  answer  to 
which  some  one  may  not  oppose  an  objection.  The 
profits  will  be  pretty  nearly  what  the  grower  himself 
makes  them.  The  only  guidance  that  can  be  given  is 
to  point  out  what  has  been  done,  here  and  elsewhere, 
and  what  conditions  may  change  these  results  in  the 
future. 

In  the  first  place,  I  assume  that  the  grower  has 
a  reasonably  good  piece  of  land,  plenty  of  water, 
and  palms  of  standard  varieties  which  will  produce 
uniform  fruit  of  first  quality.  I  assume,  too,  that  he 
manages  his  own  plantation,  that  he  has  given  some 
study  to  the  industry,  and  that  he  means  business. 
He  may  get  a  manager  who  will  be  satisfactory,  but 
he  may  not,  for  such  men  are  scarce  in  any  agricul- 
tural enterprise,  and  are  not  likely  to  be  attracted  by 
the  ardent  summer  climate  of  a  date-growing  region. 
They  are  likely  to  feel  as  a  newly-arrived  Turkish 
governor  of  Baghdad  is  alleged  to  have  done.  He  spent 
the  whole  of  his  first  day  complaining  of  the  heat: 

"But,  your  excellency,"  his  attendants  assured 
him,  "we  need  this  heat  to  ripen  the  dates." 

"Oh,  you  do,  do  you?"  he  exploded,  "I '11  not 
suffer  on  such  a  flimsy  excuse  as  that.  Order  all  the 
palms  cut  down  at  once!" 

Date  growing  is  not  a  "get-rich-quick   scheme, 
but  if  a  man  gives  to  it  the  attention  that  would  be 


174  DATE    GROWING 

necessary  to  make  a  success  of  any  other  business,  he 
should  make  a  success  of  growing  dates.  His  profits 
will  depend  first  on  the  size  of  the  crop,  and  second 
on  the  price  which  he  receives  for  it. 

As  to  the  first,  the  usual  estimate  in  the  United 
States  is  100  pounds  for  each  adult  palm,  per  year. 
For  most  varieties,  including  Deglet  Nur  and  other 
dessert  dates,  I  believe  this  is  a  conservative  estimate. 
Let  us  check  it  up  by  the  experience  of  other  people, 
bearing  in  mind  that  a  palm  should  yield  more  in 
the  United  States  than  it  would  in  another  country, 
because  it  should  get  better  care. 

The  Algerian  government  estimates*  the  annual 
production  of  a  Deglet  Nur  palm  at  40  kg.,  or  88 
pounds,  but  declares  that  this  is  probably  an  under- 
estimate. As  Deglet  Nur  regularly  bears  more 
heavily  with  us  than  it  does  in  its  original  home, 
100  pounds  seems  a  reasonable  estimate  here.  Most 
of  the  North  African  varieties  bear  more  heavily 
than  this.  For  Tunis,  Masselotf  considers  Luzi  to  be 
the  shyest  bearer,  with  an  annual  yield  of  55  pounds, 
and  Rishti  and  Hamraya  the  heaviest,  at  220  pounds 
each.  The  average  of  92  varieties  which  he  has  in- 
vestigated is  116.5  pounds  per  tree. 

In  Egypt,  the  English  estimate  a  yield  of  172 
pounds  per  tree,J  and  yet  the  trees  are  set  much 
closer  together  than  in  the  United  States.*  Egyptian 
varieties  bear  more  heavily  than  those  of  some  other 

*Les  Dattes  en  Algerie — Supplement  au  No.  6  du  Bulletin  de 
1'Office  du  gvt.  genl.  de  1'Algerie,  1910,  p.  81. 

fBul.  Direc.  Agric.  et  Comm.,  Tunis,  vol.  VI,  No.  19,  Apr.,  1901. 

|Sir  H.  Rider  Haggard,  "An  Egyptian  Date  Farm."  London 
Times,  Oct.  11,  1912. 

+At  the  great  Pyramids  Estates  near  Gizeh  they  are  set  twenty- 
two  feet  apart  or  eighty-seven  to  the  feddan,  or  acre. 


PROFITS  OF  DATE   GROWING  175 

countries;  a  yield  of  250  pounds  for  Birket  al  Hajji 
in  Arizona  is  not  considered  exceptional. 

In  the  Sudan  the  average  yield,  according  to 
official  returns,*  is  160  pounds. 

Indian  palms  are  so  closely  crowded,  as  many  as 
139  being  set  to  the  acre,  that  they  do  not  get  a 
chance  to  do  well;  yet  even  under  these  circumstances 
Milne  estimates  the  average  yield  at  from  40  to  120 
pounds,  while  Bonavia  says  the  average  in  the  district 
of  Multan  is  160  pounds. 

All  of  these  estimates  are  the  work  of  trained 
scientific  observers.  When  we  turn  to  the  Arabs 
we  cannot  feel  the  same  confidence,  but  I  have  checked 
up  their  estimates  in  many  districts  and  believe  I 
have  reached  correct  figures. 

At  Baghdad,  a  palm  which  yields  less  than  100 
pounds  a  year  is  considered  a  very  shy  bearer  indeed. 
Khustawi,  for  instance,  is  so  considered;  but  even 
with  the  lax  Arab  methods  of  cultivation  it  averages 
from  75  to  125  pounds,  while  a  crop  of  300  pounds 
on  Zahidi  or  Barban  is  quite  ordinary.  Conditions 
are  about  the  same  at  Busreh  and  in  Oman;  I  would 
put  150  pounds  as  the  average  yield  of  a  good  palm. 

What  can  be  done  elsewhere  can  certainly  be 
done  in  the  United  States.  Any  one  can  find  out 
from  the  growers  what  their  average  yields  are,  and  if 
he  does  so,  I  am  satisfied  that  he  will  admit  that  the 
figure  of  100  pounds  is  very  reasonable. 

Of  course,  exceptional  yields  can  sometimes  be 
found.  A  crop  of  500  or  600  pounds  is  not  rare  among 
Arabs,  and  has  been  closely  approached,  if  not  equaled, 
in  America.  If  we  could  secure  some  of  the  religious 

*Report  from  gov.  genl.  of  Sudan  to  gov.  genl.  of  Queensland, 
in  Queensland  Agr.  Journal,  vol.  XXVII,  p.  131,  Sept.  1911. 


176  DATE     GJl  OWING 

atmosphere  of  Muhammad's  home  we  might  do  even 
better,  for  Faqir  Amin  al  Madani  says,  "we  have 
seen  and  bear  witness  as  to  palms,  that  some  palms 
bear,  each  one,  verily,  three  ardabs*  of  dates.'' 

With  100  pounds  per  tree  and  50  trees  to  the  acre 
we  have  an  annual  yield  of  5000  pounds,  or  two  and 
one-half  tons,  of  dates  to  the  acre.  The  price  at 
which  these  will  sell  has  been  the  subject  of  much 
difference  of  opinion.  At  present  it  is  not  difficult  to 
sell  the  highest  grade  of  dates,  well  packed,  at  $1.00 
or  more  a  pound  in  California.  There  is  no  reason 
why  this  price  should  not  be  maintained  for  some 
years  yet,  while  home-grown  dates  are  still  a  novelty. 
It  certainly  will  not  be  maintained  permanently,  but 
there  will  always  be  a  demand  for  the  finest  dates, 
packed  like  confectionery,  at  confectionery  prices; 
and  even  if  such  a  demand  is  limited,  it  will  probably 
be  big  enough  to  offset  the  quantity  of  second-grade 
dates  which  must  be  sold  at  10  or  15  cents  a  pound. 
As  to  the  bulk  of  a  crop  of  dates  from  palms  of  standard 
varieties,  properly  handled,  my  own  idea  is  that  the 
price  is  never  likely  to  fall  below  20  cents  a  pound  to 
the  grower.  This  I  offer  as  an  average  price — there 
will  be  many  culls  that  must  go  at  a  lower  figure,  but 
there  should  also  be  a  considerable  amount  of  fancy 
fruit  which  will  bring  two  or  three  times  the  sum 
mentioned.  Taking  the  average  at  20  cents  a  pound 
to  the  grower,  with  the  conservative  estimate  of  100 
pounds  to  a  tree  and  50  palms  to  the  acre,  we  may 
calculate  on  a  gross  annual  return  from  a  well- 
managed  plantation  of  $1000  per  acre. 

*As  a  measure  of  volume,  an  ardab  is  slightly  more  than  five 
bushels.  As  a  measure  of  weight,  it  varies  according  to  the  commod- 
ity; the  ardab  of  dates  is  now  320  pounds. 


PROFITS  OF  DATE  GROWING  177 

This  should  begin  with  the  fifth  year.  In  the 
third  year  some  varieties  should  bear  enough  fruit 
to  pay  the  cost  of  up-keep,  and  in  the  fourth  year 
to  return  a  fair  profit.  From  the  fifth  year  they 
will  bear  well  for  a  century  or  more. 

This  figure  takes  no  account  of  the  production  of 
offshoots,  which,  with  choice  varieties,  promises  for 
some  time  to  be  fully  as  valuable  a  product  as  dates 
in  the  United  States.  Some  remarkable  records 
have  been  made  already  in  this  respect,  but  to  be 
well  within  the  limit  of  probability  we  will  assume 
that  each  tree  yields  only  one  offshoot  a  year,  from  its 
fifth  to  its  twentieth  year  of  age.  Such  a  production 
should  not  diminish  the  yield  of  dates,  while  if  the 
offshoot  is  sold  at  $5  (a  price  considerably  below  that 
now  current),  it  will  increase  the  annual  gross  revenue 
of  the  plantation  by  $250  per  acre;  and  it  is  probable 
that  with  most  varieties  two  offshoots  a  year  could 
be  taken  from  the  palm,  without  reducing  the  average 
yield  of  fruit  below  100  pounds.  This  would  make  the 
annual  gross  return  of  the  plantation  $1500  per  acre. 
I  believe  that  the  offshoots  alone  will  be,  for  some 
years,  of  sufficient  value  to  pay  all  expenses  of  running 
a  properly  managed  plantation  in  the  United  States, 
leaving  all  returns  from  marketing  fruit  as  clear 
profit. 

This  would  mean,  under  the  best  conditions, 
$1000  a  year  per  acre  net  profit  from  a  plantation.  This 
estimate  does  not  agree  with  many  others  that  have 
been  put  forward,  and  in  such  a  case  each  man  may 
weigh  the  evidence  and  judge  for  himself.  Many 
think  the  price  of  dates  will  be  much  higher  than  I 
have  assumed,  and  I  am  far  from  saying  that  they 
may  not  be  right — in  fact,  I  know  they  are  right  so 


178  DATE    GROWING 

far  as  the  immediately  succeeding  years  are  concerned. 
Those  who  get  into  the  date  industry  at  once  in  the 
right  way  can  make  profits  that,  for  a  few  years  at 
least,  will  be  extraordinary. 

Others  consider  that  the  expense  of  running  a 
plantation  will  be  so  great  that  the  profits  will  be 
much  less  than  my  figures.  I  readily  agree  that  this 
may  be  the  case  with  some  plantations,  for  poor 
managers  are  to  be  found  in  any  business,  and  some 
men  cannot  make  a  success  of  any  walk  of  life.  But 
knowing  as  I  do  that  date  growing  requires  less  trouble 
than  most  other  industries,  and  believing  that  the 
expense  of  producing  dates  will  be  less  than  that  of 
raising  almost  any  other  subtropical  fruit,  I  believe  that 
the  cost  of  keeping  up  a  plantation  will  be  reasonably 
small.  I  shall  discuss  this  question  in  more  detail 
later,  but  I  want  first  to  speak  of  the  probable  prices 
of  dates  in  the  United  States,  since  that  is  a  main  factor 
on  which  the  amount  of  profit  depends. 

At  present,  imported  Busreh  dates,  very  badly 
packed,  rarely  sell  at  less  than  ten  cents  a  pound  in 
the  United  States,  while  better  packed  ones,  and 
Fardh  dates,  (which  are  popular  because  they  are  firm 
enough  to  keep  their  shape,  although  in  flavor  they  are 
second  rate)  sell  at  fifteen  or  twenty  cents  a  pound. 
The  importers  could  cut  this  price  and  still  make  a 
good  profit,  for  Persian  Gulf  dates  can  be  laid  down  in 
New  York  at  less  than  five  cents  a  pound.  But  I 
doubt  if  they  can  improve  the  packing  to  a  marked 
degree,  and  that  is  as  important  as  the  price.  Further- 
more, they  cannot  get  these  dates  on  the  market 
before  the  latter  half  of  October,  and  dates  of  a  similar 
grade  grown  in  the  southwestern  States  can  be  put 
on  the  market  a  month  or  two  earlier  than  that, 


PROFITS  OF   DATE   GROWING  179 

while  it  is  devoid  of  dates,  and  be  sold  off  before  the 
foreign  importations  arrive.  I  therefore  see  no 
reason  why  the  competition  of  imported  Persian  Gulf 
fruit  should  lower  the  price  of  an  earlier  and  more 
attractive  local  product. 

The  French  in  Algeria  can  put  out  Deglet  Nurs, 
however,  that  are  packed  in  an  attractive  manner, 
and  owing  to  cheaper  labor  can  probably  do  so  more 
cheaply  than  we  can.  At  present  choice  dates,  well 
packed,  sell  at  twenty  and  twenty -five  cents  a  pound  in 
France  and  Algeria,  and  as  the  demand  is  steady  the 
price  will  hardly  go  lower  than  this.  They  might 
conceivably  interfere  with  the  sale  of  American  dessert 
dates  at  fancy  prices,  such  as  $1.00  a  pound,  but 
their  competition  can  hardly  be  considered  if  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  cents  a  pound  retail  is  taken  as  the 
basis  for  calculations. 

Furthermore,  the  market  for  fresh  dates  will 
always  be  a  local  monopoly,  and  I  believe  it  will  be 
a  profitable  one,  for  the  fresh  date  is  not  too  perishable 
to  be  shipped,  and  is  liked  by  every  one  who  tastes  it. 

The  total  annual  consumption  of  dates  in  the 
United  States  is  now  in  the  neighborhood  of  32,000,000 
pounds  a  year,  or  something  like  five  ounces  per 
person  per  year — a  ridiculously  small  figure.  The 
great  food  value  of  the  date  allows  every  one  to 
purchase  it  as  an  integral  part  of  the  family  diet — 
not  as  a  luxury  or  dessert,  but  with  the  feeling  that  it 
is  a  part  of  his  nourishment.  Furthermore,  the 
American  public  now  scarcely  knows  the  value  of 
the  date  in  any  form  except  raw,  and  the  teaching  of 
methods  of  cooking  it  will  increase  the  consumption. 
So  far  as  the  factor  of  supply  and  demand  goes,  I  believe 
that  the  consumption  of  dates  will  far  exceed  the 


180  DATEGROWING 

production  in  America  for  many  years,  and  that 
locally-grown  dates  will  hardly  find  competitors  in 
the  imported  fruit.  As  people  come  to  know  what 
delicious,  clean,  fresh,  home-grown  dates  are,  the 
price  may  be  expected  steadily  to  rise  rather  than  fall, 
no  matter  how  fast  the  production  increases  in 
California  and  Arizona. 

These  are  the  reasons  which  lead  me  to  believe 
that  an  estimate  of  twenty  cents  a  pound  gross 
return  to  the  grower  is  conservative.  Others  may 
figure  on  a  different  basis  or,  figuring  on  the  same 
basis,  arrive  at  a  different  conclusion.  Any  one 
interested  in  the  industry  can  consider  the  facts  and 
from  them  form  his  own  estimate. 

To  return  to  the  probable  expense  of  running  a 
date  plantation:  it  should  not  be  large,  as  compared 
with  the  expense  of  other  agricultural  enterprises. 
The  difference  between  good  and  bad  management 
is  so  great  that  one  can  hardly  quote  definite  figures, 
but  it  may  be  pointed  out  that  the  amount  of  labor  is 
not  great  at  any  time  of  year,  and  that  even  during 
the  picking  of  the  crop  fewer  men  will  be  needed  than 
with  many  agricultural  staples.  If  the  owner  is  his 
own  manager  he  will  have  all  the  profits  for  himself,  so 
there  is  certainly  a  great  future  in  the  industry  for 
men  who  own  plantations  of  ten  or  fifteen  acres. 
One  man  should  be  able  to  keep  up  such  a  plantation 
alone,  at  all  times  of  the  year  except  during  the  crop 
picking  season.  If  a  manager  has  to  be  hired  the 
expense  will  be  greatly  increased,  unless  on  a  large 
estate,  for  only  a  thoroughly  competent  man  can  be 
considered.  In  a  favorable  situation  such  as 
Coachella  or  Imperial  Valley  the  expense  of  picking 
the  crop  is  not  great;  if  it  is  ripened  by  the  slow 


PROFITS  OF  DATE  GROWING  181 

artificial  method  the  cost  will  be  nothing  save  that  of 
the  little  labor  required;  and  the  expense  involved  in 
marketing  is  less  than  that  with  most  fruits,  because 
the  date  is  not  perishable,  does  not  need  to  be  kept 
in  iced  cars  or  cold  storage,*  and  can  always  be  held 
for  a  favorable  market.  As  the  industry  is  new, 
there  is  naturally  much  yet  to  be  learned  about 
marketing  dates  to  the  best  advantage,  but  that  is  a 
problem  which  Americans  are  well  able  to  handle, 
and  when  date-growers  have  as  efficient  a  co-operative 
organization  as  the  orange-growers  of  California,  the 
percentage  of  profit  to  the  owner  will  be  very  high. 

Perhaps  the  safest  and  most  helpful  way  to 
consider  the  cost  will  be  to  make  a  comparison  with 
the  cost  of  lemon- growing  in  this  state.  Any  other 
industry  would  do,  but  I  take  the  lemon  growers 
because  information  regarding  their  operations  has 
been  collected  with  particular  care. 

Citrus  fruit  lands  with  water  are  valued  at  from 
$400  to  $500  per  acre.  Date  lands  with  water  can 
be  had  for  much  less.  The  expense  of  bringing  a 
lemon  grove  into  bearing,  including  the  cost  of  land 
and  water,  is  from  $750  to  $1200  an  acre.  The  cost 
of  clearing,  grading,  and  preparing  the  land  for  planting 
may  vary  from  $10  to  $15  an  acre,  of  irrigation 
ditches  and  flumes  from  $15  to  $50  per  acre, 
and  of  the  trees  and  planting  from  $75  to  $150  per 
acre.  The  annual  care  of  the  grove  is  from  $30 
to  $100  per  acre  up  to  five  years  of  age.  These 
estimates  should  all  be  sufficient  to  cover  the  expenses 
of  a  date  plantation,  with  the  exception  of  that  of 
cost  of  trees.  Owing  to  the  rarity  of  offshoots  of  the 
choicest  varieties  one  must  allow  $300  an  acre  for 

*In  fact,  it  quickly  moulds  if  so  stored. 


182  DATE    G-RO  WING 

the  palms.  In  the  end  this  will  be  counterbalanced 
by  the  fact  that  the  life  of  a  date  plantation  is  far 
longer  than  that  of  a  lemon  grove,  and  the  loss  of 
five  per  cent  to  ten  per  cent  of  the  trees  yearly,  which 
is  allowed  by  citrus  men,  need  not  be  considered  by 
date  growers. 

Lemon  groves  are  plowed  in  the  spring  both  ways, 
and  are  cultivated  between  the  irrigations.  The 
cost  of  plowing  and  cultivating  averages  about  $35 
per  acre  each  year.  The  groves  are  irrigated  every 
month  or  six  weeks  from  spring  until  fall;  the  cost 
of  water  averages  $15  per  acre,  and  the  labor  of 
applying  it  $1.00  per  acre.  As  dates  require  more 
water,  these  figures  will  probably  not  be  high  enough 
for  the  palm  plantation. 

Lemon  groves  are  heavily  fertilized  with  manure 
or  chemical  fertilizers,  or  with  both,  the  growers 
using  from  $20  to  $120  worth  of  fertilizer  per  acre 
per  year.  Here  the  date  grower  will  make  a  great 
saving. 

It  costs  $15  per  acre  yearly  to  prune  citrus  trees. 
It  should  cost  less  than  one-third  as  much  to  trim 
the  palms,  and  this  expense  will  be  practically 
negligible  until  the  plantation  has  reached  full 
bearing. 

Fumigation  and  spraying  of  citrus  groves  costs 
from  $5  to  $10  per  acre,  often  much  more,  and  must 
be  regularly  done,  while  the  palm  plantation,  if 
properly  started,  should  never  require  expense  of  this 
kind. 

In  most  districts  citrus  trees  have  to  be  protected 
against  frost  during  winter  months.  Smudging  costs 
about  $20  per  acre  per  year.  Date  growers  will 
never  have  this  expense. 


PROFITS  OF  DATE   GROWING  183 

With  all  these  expenses  the  cost  of  growing  each 
crop  of  lemons  up  to  the  time  of  harvesting  is  approxi- 
mately $197  per  acre.  The  upkeep  of  a  date 
plantation  should  be  well  below  this.  Expense  of 
handling  the  crop  should  be  much  less  than  with 
citrus  fruits,  because  of  the  saving  of  icing  charges  and 
long  railway  hauls,  since  all  dates  grown  can  un- 
doubtedly be  marketed  in  the  west  for  many  years. 

If  we  take  cost  of  land  and  water  and  expense 
of  bringing  a  lemon  grove  into  bearing  as  $1000  per 
acre,  which  is  very  near  the  average,  we  can  safely 
assume  that  the  expense  of  a  date  plantation  will  be 
less,  since  land  is  cheaper  and  labor  little,  if  any, 
higher,  while  the  additional  cost  of  trees  to  the  date 
grower  is  offset  by  the  saving  in  many  items  of 
cultivation.  It  should  be  noticed,  too,  that  this 
estimate  for  lemon  groves,  covering  five  years,  in- 
cludes the  pay  of  a  foreman.  The  date-grower  who 
manages  his  own  plantation  will  save  this,  while 
he  should  be  getting  considerable  returns  from  his 
dates  before  the  fifth  year,  and  may  also  grow  a 
secondary  crop.  If  we  say,  then,  that  $1000  an  acre 
is  an  adequate  investment  for  land,  water,  and  the 
expense  of  bringing  a  date  plantation  into  bearing, 
we  should  be  well  within  the  truth. 

The  annual  upkeep  of  a  lemon  plantation,  not 
including  picking  or  marketing  the  crop,  is  about  $200 
per  acre.  Even  with  the  added  water  and  cultivation 
needed,  annual  upkeep  of  a  date  plantation  should 
be  less  than  this,  in  view  of  the  great  saving  which 
the  date  grower  makes  in  fertilizing,  fumigation  and 
frost  protection. 

When  it  comes  to  picking  and  marketing  the  crop 
the  date  grower  has  a  great  advantage,  for  he  is  not 


184  DATE    GROWING 

dealing  with  a  perishable  commodity  like  citrus 
fruits.  It  costs  the  lemon  grower  more  than  $300 
per  acre  to  handle  the  crop;  the  cost  of  picking  and 
marketing  5000  pounds  of  dates  per  acre  ought  to  be 
considerably  less  than  this.* 

We  find,  then,  that  the  date  grower  has  the 
advantage  of  the  citrus  grower  so  far  as  cost  of 
production  is  concerned,  while  his  profits  from  the 
sale  of  fruit  are  much  greater.  There  is  every  reason 
to  believe  that  the  grower  can  bring  a  date  plantation 
into  bearing,  including  the  cost  of  land  and  water, 
for  not  more  than  $1000  an  acre,  and,  after  it  is  in 
bearing,  pay  the  entire  expense  of  upkeep,  for  some 
years  at  least,  by  the  value  of  his  offshoots,  leaving 
all  the  income  from  the  fruit  as  profit;  and  this  net 
income  ought  to  be,  in  a  well-managed  plantation  of 
the  best  varieties,  not  less  than  $1000  per  acre  per 
year.  For  the  first  few  years,  while  fancy  prices 
prevail,  the  grower  may  secure  a  much  larger  annual 
net  return  if  he  is  keen  enough  to  grasp  the  op- 
portunities. And  since  he  may  pay  a  large  part  of  the 
expense  of  bringing  his  plantation  into  bearing  by 
growing  a  subsidiary  crop,  we  may  well  conclude 
that  there  are  few  agricultural  opportunities  today 
more  attractive  than  that  presented  by  the  cult- 
ure of  the  date  palm. 

*AH  the  information  regarding  the  citrus  industry  is  from  Bui. 
No.  9  of  the  Citrus  Protective  League  of  Cal.,  Los  Angeles,  Jan., 
1913:  "The  California  Lemon  Industry,"  by  G.  Harold  Powell  and 
F.  O.  Wallschlaeger. 


£  Js 


ARAB  USES  OF  THE  DATE 


CHAPTER    XIV 

ARAB  USES   OF  THE  DATE 

As  a  general  rule  the  Arab  eats  his  dates  raw, 
out  of  hand,  just  as  the  American  does.  In  this 
way  he  can  dispose  of  astonishing  quantities  day 
after  day : — the  explorer  Nachtigal  tells  of  natives  who 
often  ate  six  pounds  between  sunrise  and  sunset,  in 
Tripolitania,  and  thousands  of  Arabs,  whose  principal 
food  during  half  the  year  is  dates,  consume  several 
pounds  a  day  regularly  throughout  their  lives,  and 
are  among  the  healthiest  and  most  vigorous  members 
of  the  human  race.*  It  will  usually  be  found,  when 
a  traveler  reports  Arabs  suffering  from  too  many 
dates,  that  their  troubles  are  due  solely  to  the  fact 
that  they  eat  the  fruit  when  it  is  half  ripe,  in  which 
case  it  tastes  something  like  a  green  persimmon.  It 
is  not  dates,  but  tannin  and  free  organic  acids  that 
are  to  blame  in  these  rare  instances. 

Nevertheless,  it  is  natural  that  the  Arab  should 
seek  to  vary  this  diet  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  it 
less  monotonous,  and  to  add  to  it  the  protein  element 
which  the  date  lacks.  In  the  Sahara,  ever  since 
the  middle  ages,  there  has  been  in  some  regions  a 
superstitious  idea  that  the  meat  of  dogs  was  the  ideal 
accompaniment  to  a  diet  of  dates,  and  dogs  are  even 
today  fattened  for  food  purposes  in  parts  of  Morocco 
and  Tunis  arid  in  the  Ziban  of  Algeria.  Such  a  habit 
could  hardly  have  originated,  or  persisted,  among  a 

*Date  growers  can  not  expect  the  per  capita  consumption  in 
America  to  reach  such  a  figure.  Nevertheless,  they  tell  a  story  in 
Cairo  of  a  young  American  woman  who  ate  seventy-five  dates  as 
the  finish  of  a  hearty  dinner! 


188  DATE    CUR  OWING 

more  purely  Arab  race,  for  the  dog  is  to  the  orthodox 
Muslim  an  unclean  animal,  and  Muhammadan 
geographers  notice  this  habit  with  unconcealed 
scorn.*  Even  today  the  gamins  of  Biskra  take  all 
the  conceit  out  of  a  pompous  visitor  from  the  Zab 
by  a  piece  of  doggerel  which  they  shout  at  him  in  the 
street,  taunting  him  with  the  loathsome  nature  of 
his  diet. 

On  the  authority  of  Muhammad,  cucumbers  are 
also  considered  a  particularly  good  accompaniment 
for  dates.  The  prophet  is  quoted  in  the  Traditions 
as  saying,  "the  cold  of  the  one  counterbalances  the 
heat  of  the  other  and  the  heat  of  the  one  diminishes  the 
cold  of  the  other,"  a  piece  of  absurdity  typical  of 
popular  Arab  medical  lore.t  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the 
only  advantage  cucumbers  might  have  would  be  to 
dilute  the  sugar  in  the  dates,  which  water  would  do 
just  as  well.  Probably  the  universal  habit  of  drinking 
milk  with  dates  is  principally  due  to  this  same  need — 
anyone  who  eats  a  lot  of  sugar  will  realize  that  nature 
calls  for  a  drink.  Milk  has  also  the  advantage  of 
adding  a  little  fat  and  protein  to  the  dates  and  making 
a  well-balanced  diet;  accordingly  it  will  be  found 
that  most  of  the  Arab  methods  of  using  the  fruit  are 
based  on  this  principle. 

The  simplest  way,  and  one  of  the  most  popular 
in  the  Sahara,  is  to  split  the  fruit,  remove  the  seed, 
and  then  fill  the  cavity  with  a  chunk  of  butter;  this 
is  usually  done  at  the  table  as  they  are  eaten.  Of 
course  the  butter  for  this  purpose  must  be  unsalted. 
This  manner  of  eating  the  date  has  been  popular 

*Cf.  Jean  Leon,  Descr.  de  1'Afrique,  p.  40.    Lyons,  1556. 

fJalal  al  Din  Abd  al   Rahman  Muhammad  al  Suyuti  (c.  1475 
A.  D.),  tr.  by  Pharaon,  Paris,  1856. 


ARAB   USES   OF  THE   DATE  189 

throughout  the  Arabic  world  for  centuries,  so  that  it 
has  even  been  recognized  by  the  poets;  a  well-known 
stanza  contains  the  lines: 

"I  placed  some  butter  upon  a  date, 
And    both    the    food    and    the    condiment 
were  rendered  delicious." 

At  Baghdad  and  in  other  regions  where  buffalo 
cream  is  available,  it  is  allowed  to  clot  thickly,  and 
used  as  a  substitute  for  butter. 

The  names  of  dishes  made  in  this  manner  are 
numerous,  and  not  worth  repeating  here,  but  one  of 
them  is  too  famous  in  literature  to  be  ignored — it  is 
called  khabis,*  and  its  invention  is  ascribed  to  the 
time  of  Muhammad.  His  friend  'Uthman  b.  Affar 
is  named  as  the  inventor;  it  appears  to  have  consisted 
of  dates,  butter,  and  honey,  and  the  merit  claimed  for 
it  is  that  inferior  dates  taste  as  good  as  the  choicest 
when  prepared  with  these  accompaniments.  When 
the  amateur  chef  had  concocted  this  dish  he  carried 
it  to  Muhammad,  who  sampled  it  and,  lifting  up  his 
hands,  cried,  "O  God,  set  aside  they  best  favors  and 
accord  them  to  'Uthman!"  The  word  khabis 
has  accordingly  taken  on  the  figurative  meaning  of 
"complete  happiness." 

Sour  or  curdled  milk  in  various  forms  is  a  constant 
accompaniment  of  dates,  and  even  to  an  occidental 
palate  they  are  delicious  with  cottage  cheese  or 
smierkase.  Finally,  fresh  milk,  especially  that  of 
camels,  is  considered  a  particularly  fitting  drink 
after  a  meal  of  dates;  it  cools  the  stomach  and  "re- 
freshes" the  partly-digested  fruit. 

Dates     can     be     eaten     raw    in    various  other 

*Described  in  the  Qamus  and  in  a  manuscript  of  Al  Suyuti, 
quoted  by  De  Sacy. 


190  DATE    GROWING 

combinations,  however;  in  the  Sindh  desert  of  India 
onions  are  considered  the  proper  accompaniment. 
When  the  dates  ripen,  everyone  hastens  to  eat  as  many 
as  he  can  hold;  when  he  is  replete  he  eats  a  raw  onion, 
and  is  then  able  to  start  on  dates  again. 

In  districts  where  locusts  or  grasshoppers  are 
obtainable,  these  insects  are  roasted  and  pounded  to 
a  paste  together  with  fresh  dates.  The  date  paste 
known  as  madquqeh  is  also  a  standard  article  through- 
out the  orient;  it  is  merely  seeded  dates  pounded  up 
with  sesame  oil,  and  is  commonly  used  as  a  spreading 
for  the  tasteless  native  bread. 

These  combinations  are  all  made  with  uncooked 
dates,  but  there  are  plenty  of  ways  in  which  the  fruit 
can  be  cooked.  Probably  the  best  is  a  plain  fry  in 
plenty  of  butter;  the  dates  for  this  purpose  should  be 
soft,  and  great  care  is  needed  to  keep  them  from 
burning;  but  if  properly  prepared  they  rarely  fail  to 
please  an  American  palate.  Fresh  dates  are  also 
baked  in  the  oven,  sometimes  being  basted  with 
butter.  They  are  particularly  popular  with  American 
missionaries  in  Egypt  when  cooked  in  this  fashion. 
Another  standard  Arab  recipe  is  to  chop  up  the  dates 
and. boil  them  in  milk,  often  with  the  addition  of 
chopped  onions  and  a  flour  thickening.  One  of  the 
specialties  of  Baghdad  cooks  is  fried  dates  and  eggs, 
particularly  in  the  form  of  an  omelet.  A  stew  of 
dates  with  rice  and  milk  is  considered  most  appropriate 
for  women  at  childbirth.  In  the  Sahara  dates  are 
added  to  meat  soups  and  stews,  but  the  result  does 
not  commend  itself  to  occidental  tastes.  The  locally 
famous  "  Date  Sweet "  of  the  Persian  Gulf  region,  which 
is  made  at  home  but  never  sold,  consists  of  dates  ground 
very  fine,  fried  in  oil,  mixed  with  flour  boiled  in  milk, 


ARAB    USES    OF    THE    DATE  191 

and  then  made  into  cakes.  The  Persian-Indian 
preparation  called  bhugrian  consists  of  ripe  dates 
boiled  and  then  fried  in  oil ;  it  has  the  merit  of  keeping 
a  year  or  more. 

Often  dates  are  picked  just  before  they  are  ripe, 
and  pickled  in  vinegar,  when  they  much  resemble 
pickled  walnuts. 

The  fruit  lends  itself  particularly  well  to  the 
manufacture  of  preserves  and  jams.  One  of  the 
best  is  the  mu  'asal  of  the  Persian  gulf,  which  is  made 
by  American  missionaries  at  Busreh  as  follows: 
Remove  the  seeds  from  dates  and  replace  them  with 
walnut  meats.  Boil  down  some  date  syrup  (any 
other  good  syrup  would  do),  add  sesame  seeds  to 
taste,  and  a  little  rose  water  for  aroma;  boil  until 
thick,  add  the  dates,  put  over  the  fire  and  let  it  come 
to  a  boil  again;  then  put  into  tins  or  glass  jars. 

Here  is  the  Syrian  method  of  preserving  dates* 
(it  is  almost  identical  with  that  widely  used  in  Egypt) : 
Take  the  largest  dates  obtainable,  preferably  before 
they  are  entirely  ripe;  peel  them  with  a  sharp  knife, 
put  them  in  a  pot,  add  a  little  more  than  enough  water 
to  cover  them,  boil  until  they  are  soft;  then  slip  the 
seeds  out  and  put  an  almond  or  pistachio,  with  a 
clove,  in  the  cavity;  boil  the  dates  in  syrup  with  a 
little  lemon  peel  until  of  the  proper  consistency; 
take  them  off  the  fire  and  let  them  stand  over  night; 
then  bring  to  a  boil  again  and  put  into  glass  or  glazed 
jars. 

Sometimes  choice  dates  are  preserved  without 
cooking,  as  in  the  khurma  shirah  of  Persia,  for  which 
the  choicest  dates  are  dried  in  the  sun  on  mats, 

*From  Khalil  al  Ntira's  cook-book,  "A  Tax  on  the  Eyes  for  the 
Comfort  of  Stomachs,"  Bayrtit,  1895. 


192  DATE    GROWING 

protected  from  the  dew  at  night,  until  they  are  cured. 
Then  they  are  washed  with  diluted  date  syrup,  to 
free  them  from  dust,  and  after  draining  are  mixed 
with  sesame,  powdered  ginger,  walnut  kernels,  and 
other  spices.  They  are  packed  by  pressing  in  jars,  the 
jars  being  filled  with  thick  date  syrup  and  made  airtight. 

This  date  syrup  is  itself  one  of  the  most  valuable 
by-products  of  the  date,  and  the  activity  in  Arab 
kitchens  during  the  date  harvest,  when  the  syrup  is 
being  prepared  for  the  coming  year,  resembles  that 
during  fruit-canning  time  in  other  countries.  In 
the  best  homes  of  Baghdad  it  is  made  as  follows: 
Soft,  seeded  dates  of  the  juiciest  varieties  are  placed 
in  a  large  pot  and  allowed  to  soak  in  water  for  a  day 
or  two,  then  boiled  thoroughly.  The  dates  are 
next  placed  in  a  closely  woven  basket  to  which  heavy 
pressure  is  applied,  and  the  juice  drips  into  the  pot 
containing  the  syrup  resulting  from  their  boiling.  The 
pot  is  then  allowed  to  stand  in  the  sun  for  a  week,  until 
the  syrup  is  as  thick  as  honey,  when  it  is  ready  for 
use.  It  sells  in  the  market  in  winter  at  ten  cents  a 
quart. 

Not  only  the  fruit  but  its  seeds  as  well  are  used 
in  cookery,  particularly  during  periods  of  scarcity. 
They  may  be  soaked  in  water  until  soft,  then  pounded 
and  boiled  with  milk;  but  more  commonly  they  are 
made  into  bread,  for  which  the  old  writers  give  many 
recipes  that  look  somewhat  dubious,  particularly 
when  they  call  for  the  addition  of  drugs  and  chemicals. 
The  simplest  is  that  given  by  Ibn  A  warn:*  Pound 
the  seeds  in  a  mortar,  put  them  in  a  jar  of  brine  and 
let  them  stand  for  several  days.  Add  a  little  vinegar 

The  Book  of  Agriculture,  ch.  XXIX,  art.  13.    He  gives  it  on 
the  authority  of  Quthdmi,  who  had  it  from  Jambushad. 


ARAB    USES    OF    THE    DATE  193 

and  simmer  until  they  become  a  paste,  then  knead  it  up 
and  boil  it.  The  paste  must  be  well  salted,  and  not 
allowed  to  cool  off  at  any  time  while  it  is  being  cooked. 
When  the  mass  has  become  absolutely  soft,  which 
will  require  several  days  of  simmering,  work  it  up  in 
fresh  water  to  eliminate  the  vinegar  and  salt,  then  dry 
the  paste,  grind  it  into  flour,  and  make  pancakes  of  it. 

More  frequently,  however,  the  seeds  are  used  for 
animal  fodder,  either  soaked  or  not.  In  many  parts 
of  the  Persian  Gulf  region  the  standard  ration  for  milk 
cows  consists  of  date  seeds  and  fish  heads.  In  India 
half  a  century  ago  a  company  was  organized  which 
manufactured  a  palatable  coffee  substitute  from  date 
seeds,  but  it  seems  never  to  have  met  with  popular 
favor. 

The  spathe  of  the  palm  (usually  the  male)  is 
sometimes  cut  before  it  has  opened,  and  ground  up 
to  make  bread,  while  the  male  blossoms,  when  fully 
formed  but  before  the  spathe  has  opened,  are  a 
delicacy  in  all  parts  of  the  orient,  either  raw  or  as 
salad  with  lemon  juice.  They  are  supposed  to  have 
an  aphrodisiacal  quality.  Sometimes  they  are  boiled 
with  lemon  rind.  In  times  of  scarcity  even  the 
younger  leaves  of  the  palm  are  boiled  for  a  salad,  while 
the  terminal  bud  is  always  a  delicacy,  raw,  boiled,  or 
ground  into  a  meal. 

The  medicinal  uses  of  the  date  would  fill  a  book, 
for  the  empiricists  of  the  Arab  profession  can  see 
medicinal  qualities  in  anything.  This  use  of  dates  goes 
back  to  prehistoric  times:  two  thousand  years  ago 
Pliny  could  speak*  of  their  employment  by  "the 
ancients"  to  recruit  the  strength  and  allay  the  thirst 
of  a  patient.  The  authorities  differ  considerably 

*Hist.  Nat.,  Book  XXII,  ch.  51. 


194  DATE    GROWING 

in  their  opinions  as  to  the  exact  merits  of  the  fruit, 
but  the  statement  of  Daud  al  Dantaki  is  as  good  as 
any  for  a  specimen.  He  declares,*  "Dates  are  hot 
to  the  second  degree,  dry  to  the  first.  They  cut 
short  a  persistent  cough  or  pain  in  the  chest,  and 
banish  throat  trouble,  particularly  if  eaten  first  thing 
in  the  morning.  They  are  useful  cooked,  or  preserved 
in  syrup;  they  fortify  the  body  and  strengthen  the 
blood  and  cure  pains  in  the  back  and  invigorate  the 
loins  when  they  are  atrophied;  and  if  boiled  in  milk 
and  drunk  they  cut  short  fever  and  ague;  they  also 
cure  foul  mouth  and,  taken  in  milk,  are  a  tonic  for  the 
appetite.  Dates  ought  to  be  given  to  a  sedentary 
patient  with  great  caution,  and  not  at  all  in  hot 
weather;  in  order  to  be  useful  they  should  be  eaten 
only  by  one  whose  blood  flows  freely,  and  who  has  no 
tendency  to  atrabiliousness.  In  other  cases  they 
would  produce  itch,  bad  teeth,  diseases  of  the  gums, 
and  general  languor  and  sleeplessness." 

Dates  pounded  up  with  the  leaves  of  Juniperus 
occidentalis  are  considered  by  the  belles  of  Algeria 
to  be  particularly  fattening. 

Without  going  into  the  subject  at  greater  length, 
I  can  say  truthfully  that,  if  one  believes  Arabic  au- 
thorities, there  is  practically  no  ill  which  cannot  be 
cured  by  one  of  the  products  of  the  date  palm.  On 
the  other  hand,  there  are  only  a  few  that  may  not  be 
caused  by  them,  if  we  believe  other  empiricists. 
Ibn  Baytar  is  perhaps  the  most  pessimistic  of  writers, 
and  he  quotesf  a  long  list  of  authorities  to  show  the 

*Shaykh  Daud  al  Dantaki,  the  Blind.  The  Book  of  Medicinal 
Drinks  and  Collection  of  Wonders  (MS.  in  my  possession),  ch.  7. 
He  professes  to  base  his  work  on  that  of  "The  wise,  the  experienced, 
the  wonderful,  the  one  and  only  Jalfnus,"  i.  e.,  Galen. 

flbn  Baytar,  Treatise  on  Simples,  tr.  by  Dr.  J.  Sontheimer. 
Stuttgart,  1840. 


ARAB     USES    OF    THE    DATE  195 

dangers,  real  or  imaginary,  arising  from  dates.  Eaten 
before  they  are  ripe  they  cause  skin  eruptions,  fever, 
headaches,  constipation,  stomach  and  bowel  troubles, 
and  injury  to  the  gums.  When  ripe  and  fresh  they 
are  more  dangerous  than  when  cured;  but  he  admits 
that  they  may  be  valuable  to  thin  thick  blood,  and 
closes  with  the  caution  that  persons  with  hot  tem- 
peraments should  always  eat  their  dates  with  vinegar, 
fermented  honey,  fresh  greens,  sour  milk,  or  acid 
pomegranates.  To  recover  from  such  an  attack  we 
shall  have  to  fall  back  once  more  on  Muhammad, 
who  advised  his  followers  to  eat  fresh  and  cured  dates 
together  whenever  they  could,  in  order  to  thwart  the 
devil,  because  that  personage  has  said:  "Man  will  re- 
main as  long  as  he  mingles  the  new  with  the  old." 
This  is  related  by  Abd  al  Rizzaq,*  who  adds  com- 
fortingly that  "the  sap  of  palm  leaves  is  a  sure 
remedy  for  nervousness,  kidney  trouble,  and  putrid 
wounds;  it  calms  the  effervescence  of  the  blood  and 
is  a  tonic  for  the  stomach." 

Although  the  Muslim's  religion  prohibits  the 
manufacture  of  intoxicating  drinks,  this  law  has 
never  been  strictly  regarded,  so  the  Arab  not  only 
makes  a  variety  of  "soft"  beverages  from  the  palm, 
but  several  that  are  decidedly  alcoholic  and  others 
which  are  on  the  dividing  line.  The  last  are  popular, 
for  if  it  is  granted  that  their  use  is  lawful  when  they  are 
newly  made,  one  may  drink  them  when  they  begin 
to  ferment  and  yet  ease  his  conscience  by  refusing  to 
recognize  that  such  a  process  is  taking  place — a 
moral  and  mental  phenomenon  that  is  familiar  enough 
in  the  case  of  hard  cider  in  the  Occident.  Thus  palm 

*Abd  al  Rizzaq  al  Jazalrlf,  "The  Relation  of  Enigmas"  (seven- 
teenth or  eighteenth  century  A.  D.).  Tr.  by  Dr.  Lucien  Leclerc. 
Paris,  1874. 


196  DATE    G-R  OWING 

wine  will  be  consumed  by  a  man  who  gets  roaring 
drunk  on  it  and  yet  can  make  himself  think  that  he 
is  keeping  within  the  letter  of  the  law. 

The  palm  wine  or  laqmi*  has  always  been  a 
specialty  of  North  Africa,  where  its  manufacture 
assumes  really  large  proportions,  to  the  point  of 
having  recently  been  forbidden  in  most  parts  of  Algeria 
and  in  Tripolitania,  because  of  the  damage  which 
owners  were  doing  their  palms  in  their  endeavor  to 
keep  themselves  provided  with  the  beverage.  The 
season  of  its  manufacture  is  from  May  to  October  and 
the  method  is  as  follows: 

A  V-shaped  incision  is  made  in  the  terminal  bud 
and  an  earthenware  jar  fastened  under  it.  This  is 
usually  emptied  morning  and  evening.  The  flow 
will  continue  for  three  months;  sometimes  four  or  five 
quarts  will  be  produced  in  a  single  night.  The  yield 
varies  from  day  to  day;  some  varieties  also  give  more 
than  others.  In  any  event,  the  tree  will  produce  no 
fruit  for  several  years  afterward;  but  if  it  is  allowed  to 
recuperate  for  such  a  length  of  time  it  can  then  be 
tapped  again.  The  second  tapping  usually  kills  it, 
although  it  may  undergo  a  half  a  dozen. 

The  sap  closely  resembles  coconut  milk  in  flavor, 
but  is  a  little  sweeter.  It  quickly  begins  to  ferment, 
the  process  being  hastened  by  the  dirty  condition  of 
the  vessels  in  which  it  is  usually  kept;  and  if  allowed 
to  stand  in  the  sun  for  a  day  or  two,  a  quart  is  sufficient 
to  start  several  fights.  It  is  also  made  intoxicating 
by  the  addition  of  seeds  of  the  rue  (Ruta  graveolens)  .f 

*It  is  often  called  lagbi:  the  name  appears  to  mean  nothing 
more  than  "swallows"  or  "mouthfuls." 

fThis  common  plant,  known  to  the  Arabs  as  harmal,  is  one  of 
the  most  valued  in  their  materia  medica;  Muhammad  declared  that 
it  cured  seventy-two  diseases  and  the  physicians  have  ever  since 


ARAB    USES    OF    THE    DATE  197 

The  orthodox  Keeley  cure  consists  in  mixing  a  little 
crow's  blood  with  the  wine;  the  consumer,  it  is  de- 
clared, will  never  want  to  touch  another  drop.  But 
the  French  authorities  in  North  Africa  have  found 
a  light  fine  or  a  few  days  in  jail  more  effective. 

Formerly  the  industry  was  licensed  in  Tripoli, 
each  tree  tapped  paying  a  tax  of  $4  per  year,  and  it 
was  calculated  that  the  annual  income  from  this 
source  to  the  government  was  more  than  $15,000, 
while  the  natives  made  from  fifty  to  sixty  cents  per  day 
from  each  tree.* 

Sometimes  whole  oases  have  been  subjected  to 
this  process,  when  the  well  which  supplied  them  had 
dried  up.  In  such  cases  it  is  a  legitimate  operation, 
but  it  is  not  likely  to  become  an  established  industry 
in  the  United  States,  although  it  offers  an  interesting 
way  of  getting  rid  of  worthless  seedlings. 

Next  to  this,  the  most  important  beverage  made 
from  the  date  is  arrak,|  which  keeps  five  distilleries 
busy  in  Baghdad  alone,  and  the  consumption  of  which 
is  getting  a  strong,  although  concealed,  hold  on  a  large 
part  of  the  Muhammadan  population.  Dry  dates 
are  the  best  for  this  purpose;  in  Baghdad  Zahidi  and 
in  Egypt  Ibrahim!  get  the  preference.  At  Baghdad 
the  product  is  often  made  from  dates  and  grapes  in 
equal  parts,  and  always  in  the  simplest  manner.  The 
fruit  is  allowed  to  ferment  in  water,  and  then  double 
distilled,  sugar  and  aromatics  being  added.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  wormy  dates  are  reported  to 

been  trying  to  find  out  which  they  are.  The  commonest  use  in  the 
Sahara  is  as  a  paste  to  rid  the  head  of  undesirable  citizens. 

*See  report  of  Cons.  gen.  Lago  in  Brit.  Foreign  Office  Rep., 
June,  1900. 

fProperly  araq;    the  name  means  simply  "sweat",  alluding  to 
the  condensation  of  vapor  when  it  is  distilled. 


198  DATE    G.R  OWING 

yield  twenty  per  cent  more  liquor  than  fresh  and  sound 
ones.  The  five  stills  at  Baghdad,  all  owned  by  Jews, 
turn  out  a  total  of  500,000  litres  per  year,  which  is 
worth  from  twenty  to  thirty  cents  per  litre.  The 
effects  on  those  who  drink  it  are  said  to  be  practically 
the  same  as  those  of  absinthe.* 

Laqmi  is  sometimes  distilled,  furnishing  an 
intoxicant  which  much  resembles  arrak. 

The  beverage  called  nabidh  has  already  been 
mentioned  in  Chapter  I;  it  is  made  by  pouring  water 
on  macerated  dates  and  letting  it  stand  over  night, 
and  is  rarely  relished  by  Europeans.  It  remains 
popular  in  Arabia  and  Egypt ;  in  other  date  growing 
regions  it  is  hardly  known. 

A  rather  palatable  drink  is  made  by  macerating 
dates  in  milk,  which  is  sometimes,  but  not  always, 
boiled.  It  goes  by  various  names  in  different  regions, 
and  according  to  the  details  of  manufacture;  it  is  of 
course  taken  when  quite  fresh  and  is  lawful  to  the 
Muslim. 

A  kind  of  beer  is  sometimes  made  with  dates  and 
barley,  to  which  yeast  is  added.  It  is  considered 
lawful  if  it  is  not  allowed  to  ferment  beyond  the 
point  of  slight  acidity. 

This  includes,  I  believe,  all  the  types  of  beverage 
made  from  the  date;  but  the  list  of  varieties,  as  given 
by  Arab  authors,  is  long,  the  same  drink  being  given 
many  different  names,  as  the  method  of  its  manu- 
facture is  slightly  varied  or  the  locality  changed. 
And  now  that  I  have  covered  the  subject  of  drinks, 
as  such,  let  me  return  for  a  moment  to  laqmi  to  note 
a  few  unappetizing  details  of  scientific  interest. 

*A  good  account  of  the  arrak  industry  at  Baghdad  is  given  by 
G.  Ghanimeh  in  Al  Machrkj,  No.  11,  p.  480,  Bayrut.     June  1,  1907. 


ARAB    USES    OF    THE    DATE  199 

Herodotus  mentions*  that  the  ancient  Egyptians 
used  this  beverage  for  washing  out  the  ventral  cavity 
of  an  intended  mummy;  and  Ibn  Awam  declares 
that,  spiced  with  myrtle  and  cummin,  it  is  unequaled 
for  ridding  the  hen  roost  of  lice.  1  may  add,  finally, 
that  lately  it  has  been  advertised  in  Europe  as  a 
cure  for  tuberculosis. 

"Herodotus  (c.  450  B.  C.),  Book  II.  chapter  86. 


ffi  2 


" 


PL,    <u 


S-i 


FOOD  VALUE  OF  THE  DATE 


CHAPTER  XV 

FOOD  VALUE  OF  THE   DATE 
by  Charles  L.  Bennett,  M.  D. 

In  the  arid  regions  of  the  old  world  dates  have 
always  been  an  essential  in  the  dietary,  and  in  some 
parts  have  been  used  even  to  a  greater  extent  than 
bread  and  potatoes  here.  In  fact,  without  dates  much 
of  the  world's  history  would  have  been  differently 
written  unless  a  substitute,  as  effective  as  the  date, 
could  have  been  found  for  the  tribes  of  desert  regions. 
The  date  made  their  activities  possible. 

Owing  to  its  compact  form  and  almost  total  avail- 
ability as  food  the  date  is  a  natural  tabloid  form  of 
nourishment,  and  some  kinds  even  outstrip  the  much 
vaunted  pre-digested  foods.  These  latter  dates 
contain  sugar  in  a  form  immediately  available  by 
the  body  through  simple  absorption  without  being 
subjected  to  the  digestion  that  ordinary  sugar  under- 
goes. 

So  it  is  that  the  Persian,  the  Arab,  and  the  North 
African  have  always  found  the  date  a  great  boon  and 
ideal  food,  with  only  sufficient  padding  to  favor 
intestinal  function,  carrying  predigested  material, 
ferments  that  aided  its  own  digestion,  and  an  attractive 
flavor.  The  drier  dates  kept  well  on  long  journeys 
and  never  cloyed  the  appetite.  An  active  hard 
working  desert  dweller  ate  pounds  of  them  a  day; 
they  formed  almost  his  sole  food  for  long  periods,  and 
often  for  many  months  his  only  addition  to  the  date 
diet  was  an  occasional  small  amount  of  meat,  milk, 
or  rice. 


204  DATE    GROWING 

Dates  are  at  once  an  enjoyable  confection  and  a 
substantial  energy  producer.  They  really  contain  all 
the  elements  that  a  balanced  diet  calls  for,  protein, 
fats,  salts,  and  carbohydrates,  and  all  in  available 
form  for  the  human  system.  Proteins  form  the 
pivotal  point  or  central  building  block  in  the  animal 
cell.  The  date  does  not  contain  sufficient  protein 
to  be  a  tissue  builder.  But  the  cell  nucleus  must 
surround  itself  with  energy  producers,  with  phys- 
iological fuel,  and  here  the  date  comes  in  with  its 
seventy  to  ninety  per  cent,  carbohydrate  content. 

One  pound  of  dates  has  a  calorie  value  of  1,275, 
a  calorie  being  the  physiological  heat  unit  or  unit  of 
potential. 

A  workman  of  ordinary  build  and  weight  at 
ordinary  hard  labor  will  require  3000  calories  per  day 
of  fuel  or  food  energy.  It  can  readily  be  seen  how 
far  two  or  three  pounds  of  dates  per  day  will  go 
toward  supplying  the  human  machinery  with  fuel 
to  preserve  the  temperature  equilibrium  and  give 
the  energy  which  finds  expression  in  muscular  activity. 

According  to  the  Atwater  bulletin  on  food 
composition  issued  by  the  United  States  department 
of  agriculture,  the  dried  date  shows  the  following 
percentage  composition; 

Carbohydrates 70 . 6 

Protein 1.9 

Fat 2.5 

Water 13.8 

Ash  (mineral  salts) 1.2 

Refuse  (fibre).  10.0 


100.0 


FOOD  VALUE  OF  THE  DATE     205 

This  analysis  may  be  taken  as  a  fair  average  for 
dates.  Some  fruit  will  show  as  high  as  ninety  per 
cent,  carbohydrates,  others  lower  than  the  percentage 
given  in  the  analysis.  The  carbohydrates  are  made 
up  almost  wholly  of  sugars  of  the  hexose  or  six  carbon 
series,  a  small  residuum  being  pectin  bodies  of  the 
pentose  or  five  carbon  series. 

The  pectin  bodies  belong  to  the  gums,  and  lead 
to  the  jellying  of  the  fresh  cooked  juice  of  the  date  or  of 
the  sap  from  the  plant.  The  hexose  group  of  carbo- 
hydrates, or  sugars,  are  the  principal  food  element,  and 
dates  have  been  classified  into  two  great  groups, 
according  as  they  contain  relatively  large  amounts  of 
cane  sugar  or  invert  sugar.  As  far  as  is  known  all 
dates  are  originally  cane  sugar  carriers,  but  some 
varieties  develop  in  relatively  large  quantities  the 
ferment  invertase,  which  "inverts"  the  cane  sugar, 
the  invert  sugar  being  a  mixture  in  molecular  pro- 
portions of  levulose  and  dextrose,  fruit  sugar  and 
grape  sugar  respectively.  The  latter  varieties  form 
typical  predigested  foods,  as  the  molecules  of  invert 
sugar  can  be  absorbed  directly  and  stored  by  the 
animal  economy  without  any  preliminary  digestion, 
the  invertase  performing  the  function  of  a  similarly 
acting  ferment  in  the  intestinal  tract. 

The  protein  and  fat  content,  though  small,  is  in  a 
readily  available  form,  the  protein  as  a  builder  and 
the  fat  as  a  fuel.  A  man  who  includes  two  pounds  of 
dates  as  the  bulk  of  a  day's  ration  will  not  require  much 
additional  protein,  the  physiological  requirement 
being  approximately  one  gram  per  kilo  of  body  weight 
per  day.  In  fact,  a  pure  date  dietary  meets  the  require- 
ment of  many  Arabs  in  every  day  activities  for  long 
periods  at  a  time,  without  the  addition  of  any  other  food. 


206  DATEGROWING 

• 

Lost  in  the  technicalities  of  the  above  analysis 
are  the  aromatic  substances  that  give  the  date  its 
peculiar  flavor,  apart  from  sweetness  due  to  sugar. 
These  aromatic  bodies  are  rather  easily  volatilized, 
and  in  the  treatment  of  dates  for  market  c#re  must 
be  taken  not  to  drive  out  the  aroma,  as  the  date  then 
loses  its  seductive  flavor. 

The  chemical  composition  of  the  date  at  that 
stage  of  complete  maturity  known  as  ripening  depends 
on  the  activity  of  various  ferments.  These  ferments 
are  held  in  colloidal  form  within  the  cell  protoplasm. 
When  ripening  begins  they  lose  their  colloidal  charac- 
ter and  can  then  pass  through  the  cell  surface,  diffusing 
through  the  substance  of  the  fruit  and  beginning 
those  changes  that  result  in  ripeness.  Simultaneously 
the  tannic  acid  of  the  date  becomes  insoluble,  and  the 
date  loses  the  puckering  taste  characterizing  the 
green  fruit.  Just  what  these  changes  are  chemically 
is  not  known,  but  experiments  have  proved  that 
beyond  a  certain  stage  of  maturity  the  ripening  of  the 
date  is  not  necessarily  vitalistic  but  due  to  the  enzymes 
or  ferments  liberated  by  the  cells.  In  fact,  ripening 
may  be  initiated  naturally  by  an  agonal  period  pre- 
ceding the  death  of  the  cell.  At  any  rate,  at  maturity 
the  date  is  filled  with  all  the  potentials  and  materials 
for  ripening ;  it  can  be  removed  from  the  tree  and  very 
often  ripened  to  better  advantage  artificially.  The 
"artificial"  part  of  ripening  a  date  simply  consists 
in  giving  the  fruit  the  best  possible  environment  in 
which  to  activate  or  quicken  the  work  of  its  enzymes. 

When  the  date  accumulates  fifty  per  cent,  or 
more  of  dry  matter  it  begins  to  ripen.  It  grows 
darker  in  color,  softer,  translucent,  loses  its  as- 
tringency  owing  to  precipitation  of  its  tannin,  becomes 


FOOD  VALUE  OF  THE  DATE     207 

sweet,  and  develops  the  peculiar  aroma  so  attractive 
to  the  palate.  The  cane-sugar  are  sweeter  than  the 
invert-sugar  dates. 

Different  dates  vary  greatly  as  to  their  character 
when  allowed  to  ripen  naturally  on  the  tree.  The 
ideal  date  for  transportation  and  marketing  quickly 
shows  a  syrupy  juice  with  a  sugar  concentration  that 
automatically  stops  ferment  action.  It  is  "sugar 
cured"  and  is  the  best  keeping  date.  Others  become 
watery  and,  lacking  this  sugar  concentration,  tend 
to  sour,  through  the  production  of  organic  acids. 
Still  others  dry  too  rapidly,  the  envelope  cracks 
open  and  affords  breeding  places  for  bacteria,  and 
yeasts  and  hatcheries  for  insect  eggs.  In  the  artificial 
ripening  of  dates  all  these  factors  and  others  are 
taken  into  account,  and  much  progress  has  been  made 
in  perfecting  processes  for  producing  dates  of  good 
keeping  qualities.  These  qualities  depend  principally 
on  the  following  factors: 

1.  The    fruit    must    have    a    juice    sufficiently 
concentrated   to   be   sugar   cured.     This   protects   it 
from  certain  ferments  which  would  carry  the  changes 
too  far  and  result  in  souring. 

2.  The    external    envelope    must    be  preserved 
intact,  firm,  and  dry.     This  prevents  stickiness  and 
the  entrance  of  yeasts  and  bacteria  and  the  deposition 
of  insect  eggs. 

3.  The  action  of  enzymes  contained  within  the 
dates  must  be  stopped. 

4.  Any  bacteria,  yeasts,  or  insect  eggs  clinging 
to  the  fruit  must  be  killed. 

Without  going  into  exhaustive  detail  as  to 
methods  to  bring  about  these  desirable  features,  suffice 
it  to  say  that  this  work  is  almost  perfected  through 


208  DATE    GROWING 

judicious  picking  at  a  certain  stage  of  maturity,  pas- 
teurization, chemical  treatment,  and  cleanliness  in 
handling. 

The  principle  underlying  artificial  ripening  is, 
subjecting  the  date  to  a  process  which  kills  the  pro- 
toplasm, or  so  changes  it  that  the  enzymes  within  the 
cell  protoplasm  are  liberated  and  mobilized  so  that 
their  characteristic  action  can  rapidly  proceed. 
Many  agencies  can  bring  this  about,  and  among  them 
are  heat  and  moisture,  gasoline,  nitrous  ether,  and 
various  acids  and  alkalies.  The  essentials  of  11 
ripening  process  are: 

1.  Efficiency  as  to  rapidity  and  completeness  of 
action. 

2.  Preservation  of  flavor. 

3.  No  poisonous  substance  must  be  left  in  the 
fruit. 

4.  Convenience  and  economy  in  operation. 

5.  As  dates  are  hygroscopic  they  must  not  be 
over  exposed  to  moisture,  as  that  favors  souring. 

The  most  successful  method  at  present,  in  Arizona, 
seems  to  be  a  combination  of  exposure  to  carbon 
dioxide  gas  with  proper  temperature  and  moisture, 
a  process  resulting  in  fully  ripened,  well  flavored,  and 
sterile  fruit.  Clean  handling  and  proper  shipping 
containers  complete  the  method. 

In  California,  at  the  Indio  Experiment  Station, 
carbon  dioxide  is  not  found  essential  to  the  ripening 
method  employed.  Climatic  and  seasonal  differences 
probably  explain  the  varying  results  of  different 
methods  employed.  In  Arizona  the  date  grower  has 
to  contend  with  rains  at  the  ripening  time,  which  the 
California  grower  has  not  to  face. 


PART  II. 
DATE  VARIETIES 


VARIETIES 

[In  the  following  list  of  varieties  I  have  given  first,  in  each  case, 
what  I  consider  the  correct  spelling  of  the  variety  name,  followed  by 
variations  which  have  been  used  in  print,  and  the  English  meaning 
of  the  name,  when  I  knew  it.  The  list  includes  only  one-fourth  of 
the  varieties  which  have  been  grown  in  the  United  States,  but  I 
believe  it  lacks  none  which  is  of  any  importance  now.] 

Amari,  Ammary,  Ammaree,  The  Abundant, 
a  common  Sakaran  variety,  valued  because  it  is 
one  of  the  first  to  bear.  It  is  the  earliest  North 
African  date  in  the  United  States,  but  its  quality 
here,  as  in  its  native  home,  is  mediocre.  The  fruit 
is  dark  and  soft.  It  ripens  in  August,  or  (in  some 
parts  of  Tunisia)  in  the  middle  of  July.  It  is  rarely 
seen  on  the  market,  as  the  growers  eat  it  up  as  rapidly 
as  it  ripens,  picking  it  from  the  bunch  as  it  matures. 
It  ripens  unevenly,  a  whole  cluster  never  maturing 
at  once.  The  palm  is  productive;  the  foliage  coarse 
and  heavy,  leaves  very  numerous,  rather  short 
stalked,  with  long,  wide  leaflets.  Stalks  and  branches 
of  fruit-clusters  are  orange-colored. 

Fruit  one  and  one-fourth  to  one  and  one-half 
inch  long,  about  one-half  as  wide,  generally  inversely 
egg-shaped,  square  at  base,  rounded  at  apex.  Color 
dark  brown  purple.  Flesh  one-eighth  inch  thick, 
soft  and  dark-colored,  fibrous.  Seed  two-thirds  as 
long  as  fruit,  two-fifths  as  wide  as  long,  mars  brown 
in  color,  blunt  at  both  ends,  ventral  channel  open, 
germ  pore  indistinct.  (Kearney). 

Amhat,  The  Pure  (?),  one  of  the  commonest 
Egyptian  varieties;  has  not  yet  fruited  in  the  United 
States.  A  small  date,  orange-yellow  in  color,  usually 
eaten  only  in  the  fresh,  soft  (rutab)  condition,  except 


212  DATE'GROWING 

when  grown  in  Upper  Egypt,  where  it  is  dried  (turning 
dark  brown)  and  exported  in  bags  made  of  palm 
leaves.  The  flesh  is  pulpy  and  syrupy,  sometimes 
mucilaginous;  when  grown  in  moist  localities  it 
does  not  keep  well.  The  palm  is  highly  productive 
but  does  not  flourish  near  the  seacoast;  its  center  is 
at  Badrashin  in  the  province  of  Gizeh,  where  it  has  a 
sandy  soil  and  is  often  not  inundated.  American 
missionaries  in  the  Fayum  consider  it  the  best  date 
they  get. 

Amir  Hajj,  Mirhage,  Commander  of  the 
Pilgrimage  Caravan  (so  named,  it  is  said,  because 
the  owner  of  the  original  tree  held  this  important 
position),  an  attractive  soft  date  which  is  confined 
to  the  oasis  of  Mandali,  three  days'  journey  east  of 
Baghdad  on  the  frontier  between  Persia  and 
Mesopotamia.  The  variety  is  rare  even  in  its  own 
home,  and  is  jealously  guarded  by  its  owners,  wealthy, 
aristocratic,  and  fanatical  Muslim  heretics,  who 
refuse  to  part  with  offshoots,  so  that  not  even  their 
neighbors  and  friends  in  the  surrounding  region  have 
been  able  to  secure  this  palm,  and  several  attempts  to 
secure  offshoots  for  importation  to  America  have 
likewise  failed.  As  many  seeds  of  the  variety  have 
been  planted  in  California,  it  merits  description. 

The  palm  is  tall  and  graceful,  but  delicate, 
requiring  a  great  deal  of  cultivation  and  water;  even 
then  it  is  a  shy  bearer.  It  grows  in  a  sandy  and 
alkaline  soil.  The  fruit  matures  in  midseason — 
probably  about  October  1st.  It  is  indisputably  a 
good  date,  but  owes  its  reputation  partly  to  the 
jealous  care  with  which  the  owners  guard  it,  and  to 
its  attractive  appearance  and  unusual  translucence. 


DATE      VARIETIES  215 

It  used  to  be  sold  occasionally  on  the  Baghdad 
market  but  is  now  never  seen  there ;  it  is  exported  only 
as  presents  from  the  people  of  Mandali  to  their 
friends;  in  this  way  it  not  only  reaches  Baghdad 
but  Damascus,  Bayrut,  and  Constantinople.  The 
Baghdadis,  perhaps  from  jealousy,  are  accustomed 
to  depreciate  its  quality,  and  intelligent  men  have 
even  told  me  the  ridiculous  story  that  Amir  Hajj 
is  nothing  but  Khustawi,  the  Baghdad  favorite, 
cured  by  a  secret  process.  A  dispassionate  observer 
will  decide  that  the  date  is  of  first  quality,  but  that 
there  are  several  in  Mesopotamia  which  are  equally 
good. 

In  form,  this  date  is  broadly  oblong-oval  to 
oblong-ovate,  flattened  at  base,  widest  at  or  near 
center,  apex  rounded  to  broadly  pointed,  base  flattened. 
Size  medium  large,  one  and  one-quarter  to  one  and 
three-eighths  inch  long,  seven-eighths  to  one  inch 
wide.  Surface  dry  or  nearly  so,  roughly  undulating, 
slightly  glossy  where  the  thick  bluish-gray  bloom 
has  been  rubbed  off;  deep,  rich  orange-brown  in 
color,  unusually  translucent.  Skin  firm  but  rather 
thin,  not  easily  broken,  though  tender;  loosely  folded, 
the  folds  rather  prominent  but  only  occasionally 
separating  from  the  flesh;  no  blisters.  Flesh  three- 
eighths  inch  thick,  of  caramel  consistency,  translucent 
light  golden-brown  in  color;  fibrous  lining  of  seed 
cavity  yellowish-cream  colored,  fibre  tender  and 
unnoticeable  in  the  mouth.  Seed  rather  small, 
three-quarters  inch  long  by  one-fourth  to  three-eighths 
inch  wide,  oblong  to  oblong  obovate,  blunt  at  base, 
slightly  tapering  at  apex;  smooth;  deep,  dull  brown  in 
color;  ventral  channel  almost  or  entirely  closed; 
germ  pore  at  or  near  center.  Flavor  very  rich  and 


214  DATE  -GROWING 

pleasant,  not  so  sweet  as  to  be  cloying  nor  so  strong 
as  to  be  objectionable.  Although  the  date  somewhat 
resembles  Maktum  in  appearance  the  flavor  is 
entirely  different. 

Amri  or  Amiri,*  the  principal  commercial  date 
of  Egypt,  very  largely  exported  to  London  from 
Sharqia,  Faqus,  Salhieh,  and  Abu  Kabir;  it  often 
appears  on  the  market  under  the  name  of  "dates 
from  Tel  el  Kebir. "  Yellow  and  syrupy  when 
fresh;  dark  brown  when  cured;  large;  admirable 
shipping  qualities.  It  is  much  in  demand  and  the 
best  fruit  is  packed  like  confectionery.  Has  not 
fruited  in  the  United  States,  unless  an  old  and  un- 
named palm  near  Indio,  California,  be  of  this  variety. 
A  palm  of  this  name  which  fruits  successfully  at 
Tempe,  Arizona,  is  a  dry  date. 

Anjasi,  The  Pyriform,  a  large,  brown,  soft 
date  from  Baghdad,  which  ripens  in  early  September, 
and  bears  rather  heavily;  the  fruit  is  considered  to  be  of 
good  quality,  but  the  variety  is  not  common.  Good 
when  fresh  or  cured.  Has  not  yet  fruited  in  the 
United  States. 

Arisbti,  see  Rishti. 

Asab'i  al  Arus,  Sba  el  Aroosa,  The  Bride's 
Fingers,  a  common  name  for  a  date  among  Arabs, 
because  the  fingers  of  a  girl  on  her  wedding  day  are 
polished  and  painted  until  they  are  works  of  art. 
The  date  of  that  name  in  Algeria  and  Tunisia  is  an 

*Perhaps  from  Amr,  a  common  name  for  men.     Delchevalerie 
refers  it  to  the  same  root  but  makes  it  Umri,  The  Date  of  Life. 


DATE      VARIETIES  215 

inferior  soft  date,  but  a  much  better  one  is  grown  to 
a  limited  extent  in  most  parts  of  Mesopotamia; 
it  is  eaten  either  fresh  or  cured.  The  palm,  which 
is  a  heavy  bearer,  ripens  its  fruit  late  in  September. 
The  date  is  long  and  slender,  light  brown  in  color. 
Has  not  yet  fruited  in  this  country. 

Asharasi,  Ascherasi,  Tall  Growing,  the  best  dry 
date  of  Mesopotamia*,  and  probably  as  good  an 
example  of  the  type  as  is  to  be  found  in  the  world. 
The  apical  end  is  usually  soft  and  translucent,  which 
has  led  some  writers  to  call  it  semi-dry.  It  is  a  great 
favorite  around  Baghdad  and  almost  as  much  so  at 
Busreh,  although  it  is  grown  in  the  latter  district 
on  a  very  small  scale;  and  even  at  Baghdad  most  of 
the  supply  comes  from  oases  toward  the  Persian 
frontier.  It  has  been  well  tested  in  California  and 
has  proved  itself  well  adapted  to  conditions  here. 
By  its  soft  consistency,  freedom  from  fibre  and  tannin, 
and  delicate  flavor,  it  commends  itself  to  all  interested 
in  dry  dates,  but  unfortunately  offshoots  are  difficult 
to  procure. 

In  form,  the  fruit  is  ovate  to  oblong  ovate, 
broadest  at  or  close  to  flattened  base,  and  tapering  to 
the  pointed  or  broadly  pointed  apex.  Sometimes 
tends  toward  ovate  elliptical,  being  rather  variable 
in  form  as  well  as  size.  Medium  to  medium  large  in 
size,  one  and  one-eighth  to  one  and  three-eighths 
inch  in  length,  seven-eighths  to  one  and  one-quarter 
inch  in  breadth.  Surface  hard,  rough,  straw-colored 

*  Ancient  writers  mention  a  variety  called  Al  Sarafan,  now 
extinct,  which  seems  to  have  been  much  the  same  as  Asharasi.  An 
interesting  account  of  the  dates  anciently  grown  around  Baghdad, 
as  described  by  classical  writers,  is  given  by  Father  Anastase  Marie 
in  Loghat  el  Arab,  No.  XI,  mai,  1913,  p.  509. 


21«  DATE    CROWING 

around  base,  translucent  brownish  amber  toward 
apex;  bloom  slight,  grayish.  Skin  dry,  thin,  and 
tender,  breaking  frequently,  coarsely  wrinkled  and 
folded,  often  separating  from  the  flesh  except  around 
base.  Flesh  at  basal  end  hard,  opaque,  creamy 
white;  toward  tip  changing  to  translucent  brownish 
amber,  of  solid  consistency,  one-fourth  inch  thick. 
Seed  small,  oblong-elliptical,  blunt  or  rounded  at 
base  and  sharply  pointed  at  apex,  five-eighths  to 
three-quarters  inch  long,  one-fourth  to  five-sixteenths 
inch  broad;  smooth;  light  brown;  ventral  channel 
almost  closed,  germ  pore  nearer  base  than  apex. 
Flavor  rich,  sweet,  and  nutty. 

Two  allied  varieties  are  distinguished  by  the 
Arabs:  Asharasi  Aswad  ("Black")  which  differs  only 
in  color,  and  Qurret  Asharasi,  The  Coolness  (i.e., 
pleasing  freshness)  of  Asharasi,  which  has  no  marked 
point  of  difference.  There  is  a  widespread  super- 
stition in  Mesopotamia  that  these  three  varieties  are 
sensitive  to  the  odor  of  melons,  and  that  if  one  opens 
or  eats  a  melon  under  such  a  palm  the  dates  will 
all  fall  to  the  ground  within  a  few  days. 

'Ausheh,  Aooshet,  perhaps  correctly  'Aujeh,  The 
Recurving,  a  rare  variety  from  the  Mzab  of  Algeria 
which  has  given  good  results  in  the  United  States. 

'Awaydi,  "The  Little  Big  One,"  a  rare  Busreh 
variety  which  many  consider  the  best  there,  for  its 
mild,  delicate  flavor  as  well  as  its  large  size.  It  is 
also  the  slowest  to  come  into  bearing,  offshoots 
yielding  nothing  for  from  eight  to  fourteen  years, 
according  to  Arabs.  The  date  ripens  about  October 
1st.  and  must  be  well  cured,  when  it  packs  excellently. 


asm 


DATE      VARIETIES  217 

In  its  fresh  state  it  is  little  esteemed.  The  fruit  will 
keep  for  a  year  without  deteriorating.  A  shy  bearer. 

The  date  is  broadly  oblong  to  oblong  ovate, 
usually  regularly  oblong  but  sometimes  slightly 
widest  near  the  broad,  obliquely  flattened  base, 
thence  tapering  to  the  rounded  or  broadly  pointed 
apex.  Size  very  large,  the  length  being  one  and  three- 
quarters  to  two  inches,  breadth  at  widest  point 
seven-eighths  to  one  inch.  Surface  almost  smooth, 
deep  golden-brown  in  color,  sometimes  tinged  with 
maroon,  and  overspread  with  a  thick,  grayish-blue 
bloom;  marked  with  a  few  transverse  russet  scars 
toward  apex,  by  which  the  Arabs  distinguish  it  from 
similar  varieties.  Skin  thin,  tender,  very  slightly 
wrinkled,  or  sometimes  folded  longitudinally  and 
transversely,  but  generally  adhering  to  the  flesh  very 
closely.  Flesh  soft  and  syrupy,  three-sixteenths  to 
one-fourth  inch  in  thickness,  deep  amber  colored, 
tinged  with  red  near  the  skin;  the  fibrous  lining  of  the 
seed  cavity  rather  thick  and  tough.  Seed  broadly 
oblong  to  oblong-obovate,  rounded  at  base  and 
bluntly  rounded  at  apex,  one  inch  long,  three-eighths 
inch  broad,  smooth,  grayish  brown  in  color,  ventral 
channel  open  but  shallow,  germ  pore  slightly  nearer 
apex  than  base.  Flavor  moderately  rich,  sweet  but 
not  cloying. 

Two  palms  in  Coachella  Valley,  brought  from 
Busreh  eight  years  ago,  are  bearing  for  the  first  time 
this  year.  The  labels  are  confused  but  there  is  reason 
to  believe  that  they  are  'Awaydi. 

Azmashi,  a  rare  but  much  esteemed  soft  date 
of  the  Algerian  Ziban,  which  is  never  seen  on  the 
market,  but  which  many  Arabs  declare  is  preferable 


218  DATE    G-RO  WING 

to  Deglet*  Nur.  It  is  said  to  be  about  the  size  of 
the  latter  date,  slightly  lighter  in  color,  and  equally 
translucent.  It  matures  late — well  on  to  November  1. 
A  shy  bearer,  and  the  dates  are  small  unless  a  large 
proportion  of  the  clusters  be  removed.  May  have 
originated  as  a  seedling  of  Deglet  Nur.  Has  not  yet 
fruited  in  the  United  States. 

Badinjani,  The  Egg-Plant  Date,  so  called  from 
its  resemblance  to  the  fruit  of  Solanum  melongena. 
Introduced  to  the  United  States  only  this  year.  A 
scarce  Baghdad  variety,  really  a  dry  date,  but  better 
when  gathered  while  still  soft,  and  packed  in  boxes  or 
skins.  It  is  also  good  when  fresh  (rutab)  and  better 
than  the  average  in  its  dry  form.  Season  varies 
widely ;  in  some  places  it  is  one  of  the  earliest  to  ripen, 
say  early  August,  while  in  others  it  comes  a  month 
later.  Bears  well  and  is  highly  esteemed. 

*Deglet  should  correctly  be  transliterated  Daqlet  when  followed 
by  a  vowel,  or  Daqleh  when  followed  by  a  consonant;  the  collective 
plural  Daqal  is  often  used  by  illiterate  Arabs  of  the  present  day  as  a 
singular,  Degal.  Its  general  meaning  is  "weak,  emaciated,  or  thin," 
and  as  applied  to  palms  it  means,  according  to  one  of  the  best  classical 
lexicographers,  "a  variety  of  palm  trees,  and  the  dates  thereof  are 
bad,  although  the  daqleh  may  be  abundant  in  fruit;  and  some  have 
red  dates  and  some  have  black;  the  body  of  the  dates  being  small 
and  the  stone  large."  Another  says,  "they  are  the  worst  of  palm 
trees  and  their  dates  the  worst  of  dates."  The  word  refers,  in  short, 
to  a  chance  seedling  which  can  not  be  identified  with  any  known 
variety,  and  as  such  it  is  regularly  used  today,  and  has  always  been 
so  used,  in  all  Arab  communities.  But  occasionally  a  seedling  desig- 
nated by  this  name  is  found  worthy  of  perpetuation,  and  then,  instead 
of  being  given  a  regular  variety  name,  it  is  sometimes  allowed  to 
keep  the  word  Daqleh  in  its  name,  to  recall  to  the  Arabs  the  fact 
that  it  is  an  adventitious  variety — such  is  the  case  with  Deglet  Nur 
and  many  others.  These  exceptions  do  not  weaken  the  general  rule 
that  a  date  described  by  the  Arabs  as  a  degal  is  of  inferior  quality, 
and  in  most  cases  it  will  be  found  that  a  variety  whose  name  contains 
that  word  is  of  secondary  importance.  There  is  not  the  slightest 
authority  for  saying  that  degal  means  a  soft  date;  it  is,  indeed,  more 
likely  to  be  dry  than  soft.. 


DATE      VARIETIES  219 

Form  obovate,  narrow  and  flattened  at  base, 
broadly  pointed  at  apex.  Very  firm  in  consistency. 
Size  medium  large,  one  and  three-eighths  to  one  and 
one-half  inch  in  length,  seven-eighths  to  one  and  one- 
sixteenth  inch  in  breadth.  Surface  fairly  smooth, 
slightly  rough  or  undulating  in  parts,  dry,  light 
purplish  maroon  in  color,  with  a  satiny  sheen;  bloom 
extremely  slight.  Skin  dry,  thin  but  rather  tough, 
coarsely  wrinkled  transversely  over  a  part  of  the 
surface,  the  rest  smooth  or  undulating;  adheres  closely. 
Flesh  three-sixteenths  to  one-fourth  inch  thick,  firm 
but  not  brittle,  opaque  and  whitish  near  base,  usually 
changing  to  translucent  brownish  amber  toward  apex; 
fibrous  lining  of  seed  cavity  rather  prominent.  Seed 
elliptical,  tapering  at  base  and  roundly  pointed  at  apex, 
seven-eighths  inch  long,  three-eighths  inch  broad, 
smooth,  grayish  brown,  ventral  channel  open,  germ 
pore  slightly  nearer  base  than  apex.  Flavor  rather 
rich  for  a  dry  date;  nutty  and  pleasant. 

Badrahi,  Badraihi,  Bedraihe,  Badurahi,  from 
the  oasis  of  Badra,  (although  those  of  Mandali  are 
now  considered  better).  The  palm  flourishes  in  a 
sandy  soil,  and  is  rarely  found  at  Baghdad.  The  date 
is  much  liked  by  the  Baghdadis,  but  the  whole  supply 
is  shipped  in.  The  palm  is  easy  to  cultivate,  but 
bears  moderately;  it  has  been  a  decided  success  in 
America.  Season  late  September. 

Form  broadly  oblong,  tending  to  oblong-oval  and 
oblong-obovate,  broadest  between  center  and  apex. 
Base  slightly  flattened,  apex  broadly  pointed.  Size 
medium  to  medium  large,  one  and  one-fourth  to  one 
and  three-fourths  inch  long,  seven-eighths  to  one 
and  one-eighth  inch  wide.  Surface  hard  and  dry, 


220  DATE    GROWING 

smooth  to  roughly  undulating,  rarely  wrinkled; 
brownish  straw  colored,  sometimes  darker  toward 
apex  and  lighter  toward  base.  Skin  hard,  dry,  and 
brittle,  adhering  closely  to  flesh  and  rarely  wrinkled 
or  folded.  Flesh  three-eighths  inch  thick,  light 
straw  colored,  very  hard  and  solid,  not  mealy,  free 
from  fibre.  Seed  oblong-elliptical,  slightly  tapering 
at  base  and  pointed  at  apex,  three-fourths  inch  long, 
five-sixteenths  inch  wide,  fairly  smooth,  deep  brown  in 
color,  ventral  channel  open,  narrow ;  germ  pore  slightly 
nearer  apex.  Flavor  remarkably  sweet  and  delicate, 
almost  honey-like,  with  very  little  of  the  nutty 
flavor  that  characterizes  Asharasi. 

Badrashin,  name  of  a  village  in  Egypt  noted  as 
a  center  of  date  culture.  A  variety  which  was 
introduced  under  the  probably  erroneous  name  of 
Okka  de  Badrashin  has  proved  decidedly  valuable  in 
Arizona  and  is  worthy  of  wide  propagation.  It  is 
similar  in  general  appearance  to  Birket  al  Hajji 
but  is  excessively  late  in  maturing  its  fruit,  which  in 
the  Tempe  garden  frequently  hangs  on  the  tree  all 
winter;  some  of  the  best  dates  have  been  picked  in 
March.  It  is  hardy  and  a  heavy  bearer,  but  in  that 
unfavorable  climate  the  fruits  do  not  mature  well 
unless  artificially  ripened  with  carbon  dioxid;  after 
such  treatment,  however,  they  are  an  excellent  and 
saleable  date,  and  there  is  practically  no  waste.  The 
variety  is  distinguished  by  the  deep  orange  color  of  the 
stems  of  its  fruit  clusters;  there  will  probably  be  little 
difficulty  in  identifying  it  in  its  native  home,  and  it  can 
then  be  introduced  to  the  United  States  on  a  large  scale. 

Bajlani,  vulgarly  Baglani  or  Baklani,  named 
after  the  Bajleh  tribe  of  Arabs,  noted  as  palm  growers. 


DATE      VARIETIES  221 

A  small  but  good  Baghdad  dry  date,  which  closely 
resembles  the  favorite  Zahidi  in  appearance  and 
ripens  at  the  same  time — that  is,  it  is  early.  Bears 
well.  Not  common.  No  record  of  its  performance  in 
America  yet. 

Barban,  Berban,  The  Fair  Persian*,  a  name 
given  because  of  its  brilliant  red  color  when  fresh. 
Prized  at  Baghdad  solely  for  its  early  maturity  (late 
July);  it  does  not  cure  or  keep  well.  The  date  is  of 
medium  size;  it  turns  dark  brown  when  fully  mature, 
but  never  becomes  very  sweet,  or  entirely  loses  its 
astringency.  It  is  fairly  common,  however,  being 
a  rank  grower,  and  considered  the  heaviest  bearer  of 
the  region,  with  the  possible  exception  of  Zahidi, 
yields  of  300  or  350  pounds  being  recorded.  The 
palm  may  be  distinguished  by  the  great  size  of  its 
petioles  at  the  base;  cross  sections  of  them  are  used 
by  small  boys  when  learning  to  swim  in  the  Tigris, 
because  of  their  lightness  as  well  as  size.  The  fruit 
is  considered  rather  indigestible;  much  of  it  is  used, 
when  fresh,  for  the  manufacture  of  dibs  or  date 
syrup,  for  which  the  variety  is  considered  well  suited. 

Barhi,  Berhi,  originally  Barhi.  The  Barh  are 
hot  winds  which  prevail  at  Busreh  during  the  summer 
and  which  are  supposed  to  have  a  particular  influence 
on  the  maturity  of  this  date.  It  disputes  with 
'Awaydi  the  first  rank  at  Busreh,  although  it  is 
scarce;  hardly  grown  at  Baghdad.  It  is  delicious  at 
any  stage,  but  unrivaled  when  fresh.  Offshoots  are 

The  word  is  itself  Persian  in  origin,  and  is  a  contraction  of 
Bahr  Banu,  "the  beautiful  girl."  It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  my 
translation  above  is  somewhat  free.  The  variety  Tun,  now  extinct, 
seems  to  have  been  similar  to,  if  not  identical  with,  Barban. 


222  DATE    GROWING 

slower  in  coming  into  bearing  than  some  varieties,  but 
after  reaching  maturity  are  prolific.  The  dates  ripen 
during  the  latter  half  of  September. 

They  are  broadly  ovate,  tending  to  oval,  broadest 
near  center  or  one-third  of  the  distance  from  base  to 
apex,  tapering  slightly  toward  both  ends,  but  chiefly 
toward  apex.  Size  medium  large,  the  length  being  one 
and  one-fourth  to  one  and  one-half  inch,  width  near 
base  seven-eighths  to  one  and  one-fourth  inch,  more 
variable  in  size  than  most  varieties.  Surface  un- 
dulating, translucent  amber  brown  in  color,  over- 
spread with  a  bluish-gray  bloom  which  makes  it 
rather  dull  in  appearance;  skin  medium  thin  and 
rather  easily  broken,  not  wrinkled,  but  often  separating 
from  the  flesh,  especially  toward  the  apex  of  the 
fruit,  in  prominent  folds  and  blisters.  Flesh  firm  but 
very  tender,  one-fourth  inch  thick,  very  syrupy, 
translucent  golden-brown  in  color.  Seed  oblong  to 
oblong-ovate,  blunt  at  base,  rather  sharply  pointed  at 
apex,  three-fourths  inch  long,  five-sixteenths  inch 
broad,  rough  near  base  but  becoming  smooth  at  apex, 
grayish  brown,  ventral  channel  broadly  open,  germ 
pore  nearer  apex  than  base.  Flavor  mild  and  ex- 
tremely delicate,  rich  yet  not  heavy  or  cloying. 

The  palm  is  distinguished  by  a  stout  trunk.  It 
is  successful  in  the  United  States,  but  in  the  un- 
favorable climate  of  Salt  River  Valley  does  not 
ripen  evenly. 

Bartamoda,  Bertamoda,  the  best  soft  date  of 
the  Sudan,  and  the  only  soft  date  found  in  commerce 
there;  it  has  recently  been  introduced  to  the  United 
States  from  Nubia.  It  brings  twice  as  high  a  price 


DATE      VARIETIES  223 

as  the  more  popular  dry  dates  which  form  the  bulk 
of  Sudan  commerce;  probably  adapted  only  to  the 
hottest  regions  of  America. 

Bint  'Aisheh  (a  woman's  name),  a  common  date 
of  the  Egyptian  delta;  has  not  yet  fruited  in  the 
United  States.  Large,  nearly  spherical  in  form,  red 
when  fresh  but  turns  almost  black  when  cured; 
flesh  thick  and  syrupy,  seed  small.  Usually  eaten 
when  fresh,  or,  if  preserved,  is  put  in  bags  or  skins. 
Late  in  maturing. 

Birket  al  Hajji,  Hadji,  Haggi,  The  Pilgrim's 
Pool,  name  of  an  oasis  near  Cairo  where  the  annual 
caravan  to  Mecca  makes  its  first  stop;  also  called 
Birkawi,  from  the  same  root,  and  Hayani,  the  name 
of  a  village  ( ?) ;  one  of  the  best  and  earliest  Egyptian 
dates  and  of  great  value  in  the  United  States.  No 
variety  has  given  such  good  results  in  Arizona,  and 
it  may  be  expected  to  do  even  better  in  California. 

Outside  the  oasis  from  which  it  takes  its  name, 
and  which  has  in  all  ages  been  famous  for  the  quality 
of  its  dates,  this  variety  is  grown  commercially  in  the 
province  of  Galiubia,  principally  in  clayey  soil,  and 
particularly  around  the  town  of  Marg*.  It  is  generally 
considered  the  earliest  of  the  commercial  varieties  in 
Egypt,  ripening  in  July.  In  Arizona  it  ripens  about 
October  1,  but  should  do  much  better  than  this  in 
favored  localities  in  California. 

The  palm  is  one  of  the  most  ornamental  ever 
introduced  to  the  United  States,  with  soft  and  grace- 
ful leaves  and  few  spines.  It  proved  notably  hardy 

The  only  place  in  Palestine  where  dates  are  now  grown  com- 
mercially is  Gaza  (Ghazzeh),  and  it  is  this  variety  which  is  there 
grown,  particularly  at  the  famous  Monastery  of  Dates. 


224  DATE    GROWING 

in  the  severe  freeze  of  last  winter.  It  is  also  extra- 
ordinarily fecund :  in  the  number  of  offshoots  produced 
it  probably  surpasses  any  other  variety  of  good 
quality.  On  one  occasion  fifty-three  offshoots  were 
taken  from  a  palm  at  Tempe.  And,  best  of  all,  it 
seems  able  to  produce  offshoots  without  diminishing 
its  great  yields  of  fruit:  200  or  250  pounds  is  by  no 
means  a  remarkable  crop  for  it. 

The  date  is  long,  and  thick  in  proportion  to  its 
length;  bright  red  before  fully  ripe,  and  dark  brown 
when  cured.  It  ripens  on  the  bunch  with  great 
evenness,  hangs  steadily  until  the  grower  picks  it  off, 
and  is  borne  on  long  stems  which  allow  the  crop 
to  be  gathered  with  a  minimum  of  labor:  two  men 
have  harvested  1000  pounds  in  a  day  at  Tempe. 
Because  of  the  facility  with  which  the  crop  is  handled, 
as  well  as  the  large  yield,  Vinson  declares  that  anyone 
who  grows  the  variety  in  Arizona  and  only  makes  five 
cents  a  pound  net  profit  from  the  fruit  will  clear  $200 
per  acre  annually.  The  dates  have  never  shown  any 
defect  in  ripening,  except  in  hot,  steamy  weather,  when 
the  ends  sometimes  crack — but  this  kind  of  weather 
is  rarely  found  in  most  date-growing  districts. 

The  palm  bears  at  a  very  early  age  in  Egypt, 
often  two  years  after  the  offshoot  is  planted.*  The 
variety  is  one  that  can  be  unhesitatingly  recommended 
to  the  American  planter. 

Brim,  Brem,  often  spelled  Brehm  by  confusion 
with  Ibrahimi,  while  the  original  form  may  have 
been  Brin.t  Common  at  Busreh,  where  it  is  eaten 

*Delchevalerie,  G.  Le  Dattier.  In  Bui.  de  la  Fed.  des  Soc. 
Hort.  de  Belgique,  2d  fasc.  Liege,  1871.  The  author  was  head 
gardener  to  the  Khedive. 

fThis  variety  seems  hopelessly  confused.  After  collating  ancient 
authorities,  the  learned  Carmelite  friar  Pere  Anastase-Marie  of 


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DATE      VARIETIES  225 

fresh  or  boiled;  rare  at  Baghdad,  where  it  is  much 
more  highly  esteemed.  It  is  never  boiled  at  Baghdad; 
it  is  never  preserved  in  any  other  way  at  Busreh.  After 
its  sixth  year  the  offshoot  bears  heavily,  ripening 
its  fruits  about  September  15. 

The  following  description  was  made  from  a 
boiled  specimen  at  Busreh :  form  oblong-ovate,  widest 
near  the  flattened  base,  thence  tapering  to  the  broadly 
pointed  apex;  size  medium,  length  one  and  one- 
fourth  to  one  and  one-half  inch,  breadth  at  widest 
point  three-fourths  to  seven-eighths  inch.  Surface 
hard  and  rough,  golden  brown  to  light  brown  in 
color,  bloom  none.  Skin  thin,  dry,  hard,  profusely 
wrinkled  in  all  directions  but  adhering  to  the  flesh 
very  closely.  Flesh  hard,  dry,  coarsely  granular, 
one-eighth  to  three-sixteenths  inch  thick,  golden 
brown  near  skin  but  becoming  lighter  in  color  toward 
the  seed.  Seed  oblong,  blunt  at  base,  broadly 
pointed  at  apex,  seven-eighths  inch  long,  five- 
sixteenths  inch  wide,  fairly  smooth,  brownish  gray, 
ventral  channel  almost  closed.  Flavor  sweet,  very 

slightly  astringent. 

/ 

Bu  Narinja  or  sometimes  Qush  Bu  Narinja, 
Father  of  the  Orange,  because  of  its  color*.  A 
common  soft  date  in  the  Persian  Gulf  and  inland 

Baghdad  reached  the  conclusion  that  it  was  originally  the  same  as 
Burn!  or  Birni  (see  Loghat  el  Arab,  No.  11,  Baghdad,  April,  1912.) 
But  even  granting  this,  the  two  varieties  are  certainly  distinct  now, 
if  indeed  there  be  not  two  or  more  varieties  contained  in  each  name. 
The  lexicographer  Abu  Hanifah  makes  the  interesting  suggestion  that 
this  variety  is  identical  with  the  famous  Sayhanl,  which  grows  in  the 
Hijaz  and  particularly  at  Khaybar,  east  of  Madina,  and  is  known 
in  Algeria  as  Kasbeh. 

*The  Persian  naranj  originally  meant  flame-colored;  hence 
it  has  come  to  mean  the  fruit  of  that  color,  in  most  modern  languages. 
Cf.  Spanish  narauja;  our  own  word  orange  is  of  the  same  origin. 


226  DATE    CROWING 

Arabia  under  this  name,  sometimes  corrupted  to 
Qush  Bin  Aringa;  it  is  often  sold  boiled,  when  it 
passes — in  the  Masqat  market,  at  least — under  the 
name  of  Sakkari,  sugary.  It  is  said  to  be  the  favorite 
variety  on  the  island  of  Bahrayn;  and  it  is  so  like 
Khalaseh  in  appearance  that  attempts  are  often 
made  to  sell  it  as  such.  The  variety  (which  has  not 
yet  fruited  in  America)  is  highly  esteemed;  it  ripens 
in  the  latter  part  of  August,  and  yields  heavily.  One 
of  the  favorite  dates  for  eating  rutab,  but  it  also 
keeps  well;  as  it  is  soft  under  Arab  handling  it  is 
usually  sold  in  bags;  it  has  a  very  tender,  light  brown 
skin,  small  seed  and  no  fibre;  flesh  light  golden  brown 
in  color,  caramel  consistency  but  rather  sticky. 
Flavor  sweet  and  delicate.  Boiled  specimens  which 
I  obtained  were  one  and  one-fourth  inch  long, 
five-eighths  inch  wide,  broadest  about  base,  tapering 
gradually  to  rounded  apex.  Dark  chestnut-brown 
color.  Flesh  one-eighth  inch  thick,  fairly  soft,  dark 
cafe  au  lait  color,  some  fibre,  cavity  large  and  loose. 
Seed,  seven-eighths  inch  long,  five-sixteenths  inch 
broad.  Flavor  in  boiled  form  bad. 

Burlus,  Bourlos,  (name  of  a  village)  one  of  the 
largest  dates  of  Egypt,  grown  throughout  the  delta, 
particularly  around  Rosetta.  It  is  soft,  oval  in  form, 
skin  orange-yellow  when  fresh  (in  which  form  it  is 
usually  consumed)  but  later  turns  dark  brown;  pulp 
solid  and  light  in  color;  flavor  slightly  astringent. 
It  is  the  favorite  variety  for  making  conserves  and 
sweet  pickles.  Has  not  fruited  in  America. 

Burni,   Berni,   The   Sweetmeat  Jar   (Pers.)   ,   an 

*This  is  the  derivation  given  me  in  Masqat;   other  authorities 
derive  it  from  a  town  named  Burn,  or  from  the  Pers.,  bir,  fruit  and 


DATE      VARIETIES  227 

Oman  variety  which  apparently  has  no  relation 
to  the  classical  Birni*  of  Arabia  and  North  Africa 
despite  the  similarity  in  name.  It  is  a  dry  date 
similar  to  Naghal  and  of  unique  appearance.  Fruit 
one  and  eleven-sixteenths  inch  long,  eleven-six- 
teenths inch  wide,  basal  half  of  almost  uniform 
width,  tapering  thence  to  blunt,  flattened,  sometimes 
depressed  apex.  Basal  half  a  dead,  yellowish  gray, 
apical  end  light  chestnut  brown,  the  division  of  colors 
being  distinct.  Seed  cavity  large,  and  large  seed 
loose  in  it,  with  considerable  fibre.  Flesh  thin  but 
more  tender  than  that  of  the  ordinary  dry  date; 
keeps  indefinitely.  Seed  one  inch  long,  one-quarter 
inch  wide,  usually  some  fibre  adhering  to  it.  Date 
requires  chewing  and  has  a  rich,  full,  but  not  cloying 
flavor,  with  slight  trace  of  bitterness.  It  is  often  sold 
on  strings,  like  necklaces,  in  the  Masqat  market,  at 
the  rate  of  thirty  for  a  cent.  Ripens  midseason, 
bears  moderately.  Not  a  common  variety  in  Samail. 
Cannot  be  considered  of  top-notch  quality,  but  on 
account  of  its  great  size  and  double  coloring  it  is 
decidedly  interesting. 

Burshi,  The  Curved  Dagger  (Hind.),  a  small, 
fat,  yellow,  dry  date  of  Oman,  doubtless  curved,  as 
its  name  suggests.  It  is  a  common  variety,  valued 
because  it  ripens  about  June  1.  Yield  said  to  be  of 
moderate  amount.  Has  not  yet  borne  in  America. 

nik,  good;  or  bir,  crop  and  ni,  heavy,  etc.  Consult  Pere  Anastase, 
loc.  cit.  His  opinion  that  this  was  originally  the  same  as  Brim  has 
been  mentioned,  and  Fairchild  (B.  P.  I.  Bui.  No.  54,  p.  23)  evidently 
saw  Brim,  not  Burni  of  Masqat,  which  is  markedly  different.  The 
varieties  Brim  and  Burni  are  too  confused  to  be  separated  without 
an  exhaustive  investigation. 

*Highly  prized  by  Arabs  because  Muhammad  said,  "It  causeth 
sickness  to  depart,  and  there  is  no  sickness  in  it."  Still  used  as  a  diet 
in  smallpox. 


228  DATE    GROWING 

Deglet  Nur,  properly  Daqlet  al  Nur,  Date  of  the 
Light,  or  The  Translucent  Seedling,  a  variety  which 
originated  in  the  Saharan  oasis  of  Balad  al  Ahmar  300 
years  ago  and  at  once  assumed  the  position  of  un- 
contested  supremacy  which  had  previously  been 
held  by  Kasbeh  or  Bu  Zakri.*  Another  version 
derives  its  name  from  a  female  saint,  Lalla  Nureh, 
who  is  supposed  to  have  lived  at  the  oasis,  where  she 
said  her  prayers  regularly  by  the  side  of  the  road, 
and  repeated  the  ninety-nine  names  of  God;  but 
as  she  was  too  poor  to  buy  a  rosary  for  this  purpose, 
she  selected  ninety-nine  date  seeds,  on  which  she  told 
the  attributes  of  the  Deity.  When  she  died,  passers- 
by  found  her  body  and  buried  her  on  the  spot;  the 
ninety-nine  date  seeds  were  left  lying  about  and,  taking 
root,  became  palms  of  this  new  and  superlative 
variety  which,  after  the  owner  of  the  seeds,  was  called 
Degleh  Nureh,  or  Nureh 's  seedling.  Such  is  the 
Arabic  legend,  and  the  moralising  relator  adds,  "Thus 
did  God  reward  those  who  had  bestowed  charity  on 
his  servant  (Lalla  Nureh)  by  giving  them  better 
dates  than  they  had  before  possessed,  "f  The  variety 
has  now  become  the  standard  of  excellence  in  Algeria 
and  Tunisia.  I  estimate,  on  the  basis  of  government 

*See  Descr.  Gen.  de  Africa  by  Luis  del  Marmol,  folio  15.  Granada 
1573.  The  variety  is  still  found  in  Tunisia,  where  it  is  esteemed,  and 
in  Tafilalet,  where  it  even  today  ranks  as  one  of  the  best  dates. 

fL.  Gognalons  has  recently  put  forward  a  new  version  of  the 
name,  for  which  he  alleges  the  authority  of  a  Tradition:  that  Muham- 
mad had  a  favorite  wife  named  Nureh  who,  one  day  as  she  was 
bathing,  found  a  seedling  palm  which  had  grown  by  the  fountain; 
she  called  the  prophet's  attention  to  it,  and  he  transplanted  it  and 
named  it  in  her  honor.  This  legend  is  too  absurd  to  be  worthy  of 
notice.  In  point  of  fact,  Muhammad  never  had  a  wife  named 
Nureh.  Gognalons,  L.  La  Legende  du  Palmier  dans  1'Afrique  du 
Nord.  Bui.  Soc.  de  Geog.  et  d'Archeol.  d'Oran,  t.XXXII,  fasc. 
CXXX  (1st  trim.)  an.  35,  mars,  1912,  p.  115;  and  also  in  Revue 
Africaine,  an.  52,  No.  285,  p.  203.  Alger,  2d  trim.,  1912. 


DATE      VARIETIES  229 

figures  of  the  production,  that  in  the  former  country 
there  are  at  least  350,000  palms  of  that  sort; 
in  Tunisia  Gallois*  calculates  that  ten  per  cent  of  the 
2,000,000  palms  are  Deglet  Nurs.  Nevertheless,  the 
production  can  hardly  meet  the  demand  for  this  date 
from  European  markets. 

It  is  of  medium  size,  very  sweet,  with  a  delicate 
and  particularly  mild  flavor  in  which  the  characteristic 
taste  of  the  date  is  lacking,  so  that  it  is  more  like  a 
confection  than  a  fruit.  Its  defects  are  a  tendency 
to  ferment  after  it  has  been  kept  for  some  months, 
and  the  immense  amount  of  heat  needed  to  mature 
it  properly.  In  fact,  there  is  perhaps  no  date  in 
America  which  needs  a  more  prolonged  high 
temperature,  and  for  this  reason  its  growth  will 
never  be  profitable  except  in  a  few  favored  regions 
such  as  the  Salton  Basin  of  California. 

Unless  carefully  handled  the  date  is  soft  and 
sticky,  but  if  well  cured,  or  if  ripened  artificially,  its 
consistency  is  entirely  satisfactory.  The  Arabs  most 
fear  a  rain  when  it  is  ripening;  this  spoils  the  appear- 
ance of  the  dates  and  makes  them  unsaleable  for  fancy 
trade,  so  they  are  pressed  tightly  into  skins,  and 
within  a  few  months  begin  to  ferment,  acquiring  a 
pineapple  flavor  which  is  much  appreciated  by  the 
poor  nomad  who  buys  them  at  bargain  prices.  In 
America  they  can  be  saved,  if  struck  by  rain,  by 
quick  artificial  ripening,  which,  however,  darkens 
their  color  and  destroys  most  of  the  distinctive  flavor. 
Much  of  the  fruit  offered  for  sale  in  Algerian  markets 
is  a  disgusting,  syrupy  mass,  but  the  variety,  like 
many  other  soft  dates,  can  also  be  marketed  as  a  dry 

*GalIois,  Eugene.    L'Olivier  et  le  Palmier  en  Tunisie.    Bui.  Soc. 
de  Geog.  Commerciale,  t.  XXXII,  p.  465.    Paris,  1910. 


280  DATE    (GROWING 

date,  and  is  so  marketed,  particularly  in  the  oasis  of 
El  Kantara  where,  the  summer  being  too  short  to 
mature  it  properly,  the  fruit  has  a  crisp  texture  and 
a  little  astringency.  In  this  condition  it  is  little 
relished  by  Europeans,  although  the  Kantarans, 
with  a  loyal  desire  to  conceal  the  deficiencies  of 
their  climate,  declare  they  would  not  eat  the  mushy 
Deglet  Nurs  which  the  people  of  other  oases  enjoy. 

The  variety  matures  in  October  or  early  in 
November.  In  Coachella  Valley  it  tends  to  dry 
up  or  mummify  on  the  palm  at  the  very  time  it  should 
be  filling  with  syrup;  this  may  be  prevented  by  daily 
irrigations  at  the  ripening  period.  The  palm  demands 
plenty  of  care,  *  in  the  shape  of  irrigation,  fertilization 
and  cultivation,  but,  given  this,  shows  less  tendency 
than  most  varieties  to  rest  every  other  year.  The 
yield  averages  100  pounds  or  more  in  California. 
Offshoots  are  hardy,  easily  shipped  and  rooted. 
The  Arabs  have  the  idea  that  the  wood  of  this  variety 
is  more  resistant  to  rot,  when  placed  in  the  ground, 
than  any  other. 

The  tree,  like  those  of  most  particularly  choice 
dates,  is  notably  graceful  with  its  slender  trunk, 
light  and  delicate  foliage,  which  is  of  a  yellowish 
green,  and  its  bright  yellow  fruit  stalks,  which  hang 
down  far  below  the  crown  of  foliage.  Its  spines  are 
slender  and  weak. 

The  fruit  is  one  and  one-third  to  two  inches  long 
and  about  one-half  as  wide,  widest  near  middle, 
sloping  slightly  to  flattened  or  depressed  base  and 
more  abruptly  to  bluntly  pointed  apex.  Color 

*Students  of  environment  will  be  interested  in  the  statement 
that  in  the  Tuat  oases  of  the  remote  Sahara,  Deglet  Nur  is  "degener- 
ate and  despised."  Martin,  A.  G.  P.  Oasis  Sahariennes,  p.  290  f. 
Paris,  1908. 


DATE      VARIETIES  231 

orange  rufous  before  maturity,  maroon  when  ripe; 
its  skin  ochraceous  colored  where  loose,  shiny.  Flesh 
one-fourth  inch  thick,  deep  golden  brown,  soft  and 
melting,  conspicously  translucent,  so  that  the  outline  of 
the  seed  can  be  seen  if  a  date  is  held  to  the  light. 
Seed  a  little  more  than  one-half  as  long  as  the  fruit, 
pointed  at  apex  and  base,  light  chestnut  in  color, 
ventral  channel  shallow  and  partly  closed,  germ 
pore  in  center. 

Dubaini,  Deboeni,  Deboweni,  from  the  oasis  of 
Dubai,  near  Baghdad;  a  date  resembling  Khustawi, 
but  larger.  Has  not  yet  been  tested  in  California. 
The  palm  bears  heavily,  midseason,  and  the  fruit 
keeps  well.  It  is  rarely  eaten  fresh,  but  is  packed  in 
skins  for  future  use.  Under  American  handling  it 
should  prove  an  excellent  date  for  packing  and 
shipping  in  attractive  form. 

Form  oblong-oval  to  oblong-ovate,  widest  at 
center  or  slightly  below,  thence  tapering  to  the 
flattened  base  and  the  rounded  to  broadly  pointed 
apex.  Size  medium,  length  one  and  one-fourth  to 
one  and  one-half  inch,  breadth  seven-eighths  inch. 
Surface  irregularly  rough,  translucent,  clear,  light 
reddish  brown  in  color,  bloom  unnoticeable.  Skin 
thin  but  moderately  tough,  firm,  not  wrinkled  but 
sometimes  folded  or  blistered  and  separating  from 
the  flesh,  although  in  the  main  it  adheres  closely. 
Flesh  one-eighth  to  three-sixteenths  inch  thick, 
translucent  golden  brown  in  color,  firm  but  tender, 
syrupy,  slightly  fibrous  around  seed.  Seed  broadly 
oblong  rounded  at  both  ends,  plump,  three-fourths  inch 
long,  five-sixteenths  inch  broad,  smooth,  cinnamon 
brown,  ventral  channel  narrow,  germ  pore  slightly 


232  DATE    CROWING 

nearer  apex  than  base.     Flavor  mild  but  rich  and 
syrupy,  very  similar  to  that  of  Khustawi. 

El  Kseba,  see  Kasbeh. 

Fardh,  Fard,  The  Separated,  because  of  the 
way  the  dates  are  arranged  on  the  bunch,  according 
to  modern  Omani  etymologists,  but  the  ancients, 
who  are  much  more  entitled  to  credit,  spell  it 
differently,  in  a  way  that  probably  means  "The 
Apportioned."  Ttis  is  the  great  commercial  staple 
of  Oman,  and  is  sold  in  large  quantities  on  the 
American  market,  where  its  perfect  form,  due  to  its 
firmness,  makes  it  bring  a  relatively  high  price  in 
spite  of  its  second-rate  quality. 

The  variety  is  confined  to  Samail  Valley  and  its 
continuation,  Wadi  Aman,  in  eastern  Arabia,  sixty 
miles  from  the  coast,  and  it  so  preponderates  that 
two-thirds  of  the  hfrlf  million  palms  are  said  to  be 
Fardhs.  The  growers  declare  that  it  will  not  flourish  in 
any  other  locality,  and  it  certainly  does  not  flourish 
on  the  coast,  probably  because  of  the  difference  in 
climatic  conditions;  but  in  its  own  home  it  is  not 
considered  a  delicate  variety.  Offshoots  grow  readily 
if  given  care,  and  usually  begin  to  bear  in  three  years, 
reaching  their  maximum  yield  three  or  four  years 
later;  the  number  of  bunches  carried  by  a  palm  is 
large,  but  they  are  not  individually  heavy,  and  180 
pounds  is  considered  a  big  yield  for  one  palm. 

When  the  fruit  begins  to  ripen,  about  September 
1,  the  whole  of  Oman  is  affected,  and  the  only  activity 
of  the  year  takes  place  on  a  large  scale.  The  pro- 
duction is  now  about  as  large  as  is  profitable,  and 
if  the  year  is  unusually  favorable  it  is  difficult  to 


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DATE      VARIETIES  233 

dispose  of  the  crop,  for  Which  the  growers  receive 
little  more  than  one  cent  a  pound.  In  an  ordinary 
year  they  get  about  a  cent  and  a  half.  Usually 
buyers  take  the  crop  while  it  is  still  on  the  tree, 
paying  the  owner  $1.50  to  $2.00  for  the  crop  of  a 
good  tree.  Because  of  its  remarkable  shipping  and 
keeping  qualities,  the  date  is  exported  all  over  the 
Persian  Gulf  region,  to  Southern  Arabia,  and  in  large 
quantities  to  East  Africa;  but  the  United  States  is, 
as  it  has  been  for  many  years,  one  of  the  most  profit- 
able customers.  Much  of  the  date  export  trade  is 
carried  on  by  chartered  steamers  which  make  the  trip 
to  New  York  direct.  Exports  to  New  York  in  1911 
were  3,882,008.5  pounds  valued  at  $154,662.42, 
according  to  consular  invoice;  for  preceding  years  the 
value  of  the  annual  shipment  to  New  York  was  as 
follows : 

1910 $  94,082 

1909 40,771 

1908 59,036 

1907 105,011 

1906 131,058 

Probably  this  variability  in  the  exports  is  due 
more  to  fluctuation  in  the  amount  of  the  crop  than 
to  variation  of  the  American  demand,  which  is  fairly 
steady, because  the  Fardh  date  is  the  only  one  imported 
by  the  United  States  which  can  be  bought  in  fairly 
presentable  condition.  Its  tough,  firm  flesh  allows 
it  to  come  on  the  table  intact,  while  the  superior 
Halawi  and  Khadhrawi  of  Busreh  have  been  so 
squeezed  out  of  shape  by  the  heavy  feet  of  the  Arab 
packer  that  they  do  not  look  presentable,  no  matter 
how  good  their  flavor  may  be. 


234  DATEGftOWING 

Offshoots  of  the  Fardh  palm  are  invariably 
small  in  size,  and  those  used  by  native  growers 
rarely  weigh  more  than  five  pounds.  Such  an 
offshoot  is  good  to  plant  as  soon  as  taken  from  the 
tree,  but  of  course  does  not  stand  shipment  as  well 
as  a  larger  one  would,  and  this  may  be  one  of  the 
reasons  why  the  variety  has  not  been  established 
far  from  its  original  home.  Several  attempts  have 
been  unsuccessfully  made  to  start  it  in  the  United 
States;  during  the  present  year,  however,  it  was 
introduced  on  a  large  enough  scale  to  give  every 
chance  of  success.  The  variety  certainly  receives 
a  great  deal  of  care  from  its  owners,  and  probably 
needs  the  same  treatment  in  the  United  States, 
irrigation,  cultivation  and  fertilization  not  being 
stinted.  While  no  fruit  has  yet  been  produced 
from  offshoot  Fardhs  in  this  country,  seedlings  have 
given  good  results  in  Arizona,  the  product  in  more 
than  one  case  being  better  than  that  which  is  imported; 
and  there  is  a  particularly  good  reason  to  expect 
satisfactory  results  from  seedlings  of  this  variety, 
since  it  is  so  much  cultivated  in  the  few  places 
where  it  is  grown  that  there  is  every  chance  that  the 
male  by  which  the  tree  was  pollinated  was  also  a 
Fardh,  of  seedling  origin.  Because  of  its  early 
maturity  and  shipping  qualities  the  variety  will  be 
valuable  to  the  United  States;  yet  it  cannot  be  con- 
sidered as  a  date  of  high  quality,  if  flavor  alone  be 
considered,  and  it  can  never  compete  with  such  varie- 
ties as  Maktum  or  Khadhrawi,  far  less  Khalaseh  or 
Deglet  Nur. 

The  berry  may  be  technically  described  as 
follows:  Very  dark  brown,  one  and  one-fourth 
inch  long,  three-quarters  inch  wide,  broadest  near 


DATE      VARIETIES  *35 

middle  but  tapering  little  until  its  blunt  apex.  Flesh 
one-eighth  to  one-fourth  inch  thick,  sticky  but  of 
firm  consistency,  russet  brown  in  color.  Skin  fairly 
thin  and  tender.  Seed  small,  five-eighths  inch  long, 
three-eighths  wide,  tight  in  cavity;  little  fibre.  Flavor 
sweet  with  rather  strong  after-taste.  A  small  date, 
but  if  packed  properly  has  dry  skin  and  perfect 
shape. 

Fursi,  Farisi,  vulgarly  pronounced  Firsi,  The 
Persian,  a  little-known  Busreh  variety  which  was 
introduced  to  the  United  States  this  year.  It  is 
eaten  either  fresh  or  cured.  The  dates  ripen  early 
in  October,  and  the  yield  of  the  palm  is  fairly  large. 
Packing  and  keeping  qualities  excellent. 

Form  oblong-ovate,  widest  close  to  the  flattened 
base,  thence  tapering  to  the  sharply  pointed  apex. 
Size  large,  length  being  one  and  one-half  to  one  and 
three-fourths  inch,  breadth  at  widest  point  three- 
fourths  to  seven-eighths  inch.  Surface  slightly  ir- 
regular, somewhat  glossy,  translucent,  deep  reddish 
brown  to  purplish  maroon  in  color,  the  bloom  very 
slight.  Skin  thin  but  fairly  tough,  indiscriminately 
wrinkled  but  not  deeply  so,  occasionally  separating 
from  the  flesh  in  folds .  Flesh  soft  and  tender,  one-fourth 
inch  thick,  translucent  amber  to  reddish  amber  in 
color.  Seed  oblong,  rounded  at  both  ends,  three- 
fourths  inch  in  length,  five- sixteenths  in  breadth, 
smooth,  cinnamon  brown  in  color,  ventral  channel 
almost  closed.  Flavor  rich  and  sweet;  decidedly 
pleasant. 

Ghars,  Rhars,  R'ars,  The  Vigorous  Grower, 
one  of  the  commonest  of  North  Africa  soft  dates  and 


236  DATE    GROWING 

much  esteemed  because  of  its  early  maturity,  heavy 
yield,  resistance  to  alkali*,  tolerance  of  neglect,  and 
the  easy  digestibility  of  its  fruit,  even  when  eaten  in 
large  quantities  steadily.  In  the  United  States 
it  has  proved  a  shyer  bearer,  and  in  moist  climates 
such  as  that  of  the  Salt  River  Valley,  Arizona,  its 
fruit  matures  unevenly,  and  ferments  before  it  can  be 
handled.  In  California,  and  particularly  if  pollinated 
by  Phoenix  canariensis,  the  fruit  is  easy  to  handle 
and  will  always  be  valuable  because  of  its  large  size 
and  earliness.  It  seems  to  do  best  on  a  sandy  soil. 

In  California  the  fruit  ripens  at  the  middle  of 
August,  but  in  its  native  home  sometimes  two  weeks 
earlier  than  this.  The  tree  shows  a  tendency  to  bear 
a  good  crop  only  every  other  year,  but  this  is  largely 
overcome  by  giving  it  good  treatment.  The  root 
system  is  deep,  in  comparison  with  the  shallower  root 
system  of  Deglet  Nur.  Offshoots  are  considered 
hardy  by  the  Algerians,  although  other  varieties 
have  been  found  easier  to  propagate  in  the  United 
States. 

As  is  indicated  by  its  name,  the  tree  is  sturdy  and 
vigorous,  the  trunk  stout,  and  the  foliage  luxuriant, 
the  numerous  long  leaves  being  crowded  with  long, 
broad  leaflets.  Stalks  and  branches  of  fruit-clusters 
are  bright  orange. 

The  fruit  itself  is  one  and  one-half  to  two  inches 
or  more  in  length,  and  two-fifths  to  nearly  one-half 
as  wide,  oblong  or  inversely  egg-shaped,  bay  colored, 
but  sometimes  ochraceous  when  the  shiny  skin  has 
lifted  in  big  blisters.  In  general,  the  skin  adheres 
closely  to  the  flesh,  which  is  three-eighths  inch  thick, 

*In  Algeria  no  variety  tolerates  more  alkali  unless  it  be  the 
inferior  dry  date,  Degla  Baydha. 


DATE      VARIETIES  237 

soft  and  syrupy  when  fresh,  granular  after  it  has  been 
kept  a  year  or  more;  slightly  translucent.  Seed 
three-fourths  to  one  inch  long,  rounded  at  each  end, 
cinnamon  to  chestnut  in  color,  ventral  channel  deep, 
sometimes  closed  near  middle,  germ  pore  in  center. 
Flavor  sweet  and  very  rich. 

When  matured  in  the  way  usual  in  California, 
the  fruit  is  delicious  if  fresh,  but  the  syrup  drips  out 
of  it  so  that  in  a  few  weeks  it  becomes  dry  and  tasteless. 
The  Algerian  overcomes  this  by  pressing  the  fruit 
tightly  in  skins  as  soon  as  it  is  picked.  In  California 
the  fruit  is  firm  and  does  not  drip  if  it  is  pollinated 
by  the  so-called  Canary  Island  date  palm;  otherwise 
it  should  be  carefully  ripened  artificially.  Irrigation 
should  be  stopped  when  the  dates  begin  to  soften  on 
the  tree.  In  Arizona  it  is  considered  that  the  best 
results  are  secured  when  the  fruit  is  artificially 
matured  with  carbon  dioxid.  Because  of  the  short 
stem  of  its  fruit  cluster  the  dates  are  difficult  to 
pick;  the  green  fruit  can  be  detached  more  easily 
than  that  which  is  fully  ripe.  The  variety  proved 
rather  sensitive  to  cold  last  winter. 

Ghazi,  Rhazi,  R'azi,  The  Warrior  (i.e.,  a 
participant  in  a  raiding  foray  of  the  nomads),  one  of 
the  earliest  of  Algerian  varieties,  usually  eaten  when 
fresh  and  soft — the  rutab  stage.  The  palm  is  of 
middle  size,  and  never  bears  very  heavily;  in  the 
Ziban  the  fruit  ripens  in  September.  The  date  is 
described  as  of  medium  size,  long  in  proportion  to  its 
breadth,  yellowish  red  when  fresh,  later  turning  to 
a  golden  brown;  normally  soft,  but  if  left  on  the  palm 
it  will  become  almost  dry,  and  in  that  condition 
keeps  well.  Sub-varieties  distinguished  by  the  Arabs 


228  DATEGROWING 

are  Latin  al  Ghazi  and  Nuwa  al  Ghazi,  both  doubtless 
of  seedling  origin;  the  former  is  considered  of  superior 
quality  and  the  latter  earlier  in  ripening. 

Gundila,  Gondila,  Gondela,  a  dry  date  from 
Nubia  and  the  Sudan,  which  has  been  introduced  to 
the  United  States  but  has  not  yet  fruited.  Large 
size,  yellowish  brown  color.  Season  September. 
Ordinarily  grows  in  sand.  With  Barakawi,  another 
dry  variety,  this  makes  up  practically  the  whole 
commerce  in  dates  in  the  Sudan.  An  ardab  (320 
pounds)  of  the  latter  sells  for  $4  to  $5  while  the  same 
quantity  of  Gundila  brings  from  $5  to  $6. 

Halawi,  The  Sweet,  the  great  commercial  date 
of  Mesopotamia  and  probably  the  most  important 
commercial  date  of  the  world  in  point  of  quantity 
sold.  It  ripens  early,  bears  heavily,  packs  well,  and 
keeps  well,  but  the  Arabs  themselves  do  not  care 
for  it  as  a  diet,  because  they  consider  it  not  only 
cloying  but  rather  indigestible.  It  is  a  favorite  with 
the  American  consumer,  however,  largely  on  account 
of  its  light  and  attractive  color,  and  as  it  has  been 
proved  to  succeed  excellently  in  America  it  will 
probably  be  planted  here  on  a  large  scale.  In  Busreh 
the  variety  ripens  during  the  first  two  weeks  of 
September. 

Form  slender  oblong  to  oblong-ovate,  tapering 
almost  unnoticeably  from  the  broad,  flattened  base 
to  the  blunt  or  broadly  pointed  apex.  Size  medium 
large,  the  length  being  one  and  one-fourth  to  one  and 
three-fourths  inch,  width  near  base  three-fourths  to 
thirteen-sixteenths  inch.  Surface  slightly  rough, 
translucent  bright  golden  brown  in  color,  the  bluish- 


ATE      VARIETIES  239 

gray  bloom  almost  unnoticeable.  Skin  almost  tough 
but  rather  thin,  coarsely  wrinkled  longitudinally, 
sometimes  separating  from  the  flesh  in  longitudinal 
folds.  Flesh  very  firm,  one-eighth  to  three-sixteenths 
inch  thick,  translucent  golden  amber  in  color, 
syrupy  and  tender.  Seed  slender  oblong,  sometimes 
slightly  curved  dorso-ventrally,  blunt  at  base,  blunt 
to  broadly  pointed  at  apex,  seven-eighths  inch  in 
length,  one-fourth  inch  in  breadth,  grayish-brown  in 
color,  smooth,  ventral  channel  broadly  open.  Flavor 
extremely  sweet  and  honey-like,  but  not  rich. 

In  the  constantly  saturated  adobe  soil  of  Tempe, 
Arizona,  Halawi  has  produced  fruit  much  superior 
to  that  imported  annually  for  the  American  market. 
The  dates  are  sufficiently  firm  to  pack  in  small  boxes 
without  losing  their  form,  and  present  an  attractive 
contrast  to  the  compact  mass  which  is  usually  sold 
in  the  groceries.  They  are  rich  in  sugar  and  possess 
the  flavor  to  which  the  buying  public  is  accustomed; 
therefore  they  will  always  be  marketable  to  advantage. 
The  variety  does  fully  as  well  in  California  as  in 
Arizona,  ripening  in  September,  and  is  certain  always 
to  have  an  important  place  in  the  commercial  pro- 
duction of  the  United  States. 

Halawi  Makkawi,  The  Sweet  Date  of  Mecca. 
This  variety  is  known  at  Baghdad  and  at  Hilleh 
(where  it  is  most  common)  simply  as  Halawi,  but  it  is 
entirely  distinct  from  the  better-known  Busreh 
variety  of  that  name,  and  I  have  added  the  epithet 
Makkawi,  to  avoid  confusion.  As  the  epithet 
indicates,  this  variety  was  brought  to  Baghdad  at 
some  time  in  the  past  by  pilgrims  returning  from 
Mecca,  and  it  is  now  fairly  common,  although  the 


240  DATE  -GROWING 

fruit  rarely  appears  in  the  markets.  It  seems  to  be 
a  decidedly  desirable  sort,  as  it  is  one  of  the  earliest 
to  ripen  (August,  sometimes  late  July),  and  bears 
heavily.  The  date  in  many  respects  resembles  the 
Halawi  of  commerce,  but  I  believe  it  will  prove  even 
more  valuable  to  California. 

It  is  probably  identical  with  the  variety  Halaweh 
mentioned  by  Faqir  Amin  al  Madani,  who,  in  dis- 
cussing the  varieties  of  dates  which  should  be  planted, 
says,  "The  most  desirable  is  Halaweh,  because  the 
palm  cannot  be  equalled  for  its  beauty  and  nobility, 
which  are  admired  by  all,  so  that  it  attracts  people 
from  outside  regions  like  Qasim,  and  strangers  when 
they  learn  of  the  palm  and  its  value  carry  it  away  and 
spread  it."  Strangely  enough,  no  other  author 
mentions  a  variety  at  Madina  under  this  name; 
probably  it  is  the  modern  spelling  and  pronunciation 
of  the  famous  variety  Hilwa.*  As  to  the  name,  the 
testimony  of  Faqir  Amin  can  hardly  be  disregarded, 
since  he  is  a  resident  of  the  city  in  question.  The 
Baghdadis,  familiar  with  the  Busreh  date  Halawi, 
probably  changed  the  Madina  name  Halaweh  without 
realizing  it,  to  make  it  like  the  form  to  which  they 
were  accustomed. 

*Held  in  high  repute  because  of  a  legend  that  Muhammad 
planted  a  seed  of  it  which  grew  to  full  height  and  produced  fruit 
within  a  few  hours,  before  the  eyes  of  his  companions.  A  variety 
Halaya  is  aLso  mentioned,  but  it  is  very  small  and  does  not  answer 
the  description  here.  As  there  is  little  water  or  cultivation  around 
Mecca,  most  of  the  dates  there  have  been  brought  from  Madina. 
The  curious  will  find  a  list  of  115  varieties  from  this  sacred  city 
given  by  G.  Fluegel  in  Ztschft.  d.  Deutsch.  Morg.  Ges.,  Band  XVI, 
p.  686,  Leipzig,  1862,  from  MS.  of  a  pilgrimage  by  Shaykh  Abdu-1 
Ghani  Ismail  al  Nabulusi,  who  had  his  information  from  Fath  ai 
Din  al  Zarandi  al  Madani.  The  root  hlw  ("sweet")  is  perhaps  more 
commonly  used  than  any  other  in  forming  the  names  of  Arab  date 
varieties,  and  no  region  is  without  several  variations  on  it. 


HARVESTING    DATES 

Going   after   the    crop   of    an  unusually  tall  palm  at  Elche,  Spain. 


DATE      VARIETIES  241 

In  form  the  fruit  is  slender  oblong,  slightly  wider 
toward  the  flattened  base  than  toward  the  broadly 
pointed  apex;  size  medium  large,  length  one  and  one- 
half  to  one  and  three-fourths  inch,  breadth  three- 
fourths  inch.  Surface  rather  smooth,  glossy,  bright 
golden  brown  in  color  and  so  translucent  that  the 
outline  of  the  seed  can  be  seen;  bloom  almost  none. 
Skin  rather  thin,  tender,  adhering  closely  to  the  flesh 
except  for  occasional  folds.  Flesh  soft  and  delicate  in 
texture,  three-sixteenths  to  one-fourth  inch  thick, 
translucent  golden  brown  in  color  with  almost  no 
fibre  around  the  seed.  Seed  slender  oblong,  rounded 
at  base,  pointed  at  apex,  fifteen-sixteenths  inch  long, 
five-sixteenths  inch  broad,  smooth,  cinnamon  brown 
in  color,  the  ventral  channel  open,  germ  pore  slightly 
nearer  base  than  apex.  Flavor  mild,  not  as  sweet  as 
Busreh  Halawi,  very  pleasant  but  not  rich. 

Halwa,  Heloua,  The  Sweet,  a  small  but  good 
Algerian  dry  date,  the  palm  of  which  is  considered  by 
Dr.  L.  Trabut  of  Algiers  to  be  the  most  ornamental 
of  any  in  the  Sahara.  It  is  tall  but  slender,  the 
leaves  recurving  and  graceful,  the  color  strictly 
glaucous.  The  trunk  presents  a  smoother  appearance 
than  that  of  most  varieties,  and  the  wood  is  declared 
by  natives  to  be  particularly  resistant  to  rot.  The 
fruit  is  supposed  to  have  an  aphrodisiacal  quality, 
and  cakes  made  from  it  are  often  presented  to  a  bride 
and  groom  by  their  neighbors,  as  part  of  the  wedding 
feast.  The  variety  bears  rather  heavily,  ripening  its 
fruit  early  in  October. 

The  date  is  one  and  three-eighths  inch  long, 
five-eighths  inch  wide,  broadest  near  center  or  a 
little  below,  tapering  very  slightly  to  broadly  rounded 


242  DATE    GROWING 

apex  and  flattened  or  depressed  base.  The  thin, 
tender,  and  shiny  skin  adheres  closely  to  the  flesh  but 
is  wrinkled  indiscriminately.  Color  tawny  olive 
to  golden  brown,  sometimes  with  ochraceous  areas. 
Flesh  one-eighth  inch  thick,  firm  but  tender,  often 
more  like  a  soft  than  a  dry  date.  Seed  seven-eighths 
inch  long,  one-fourth  broad,  nearly  uniform  in  width, 
rounded  at  both  ends,  usually  with  well-marked, 
wing-like  ridges  on  the  sides;  ashy  gray,  neutral  or 
otter  brown  in  color,  sometimes  with  a  purplish 
tinge;  ventral  channel  broad  and  moderately  deep, 
usually  open  but  sometimes  closed  in  a  small  part  of 
its  area,  germ  pore  in  center.  Flavor  sweet,  whole- 
some and  agreeable. 

A  variety  brought  from  Tunisia  by  Kearney  under 
the  name  of  Halwa  Baydha  (Halooa  Bayda)  is 
also  growing  in  the  United  States,  and  seems  to  be 
little  different  from  the  one  described  above.  He 
describes  it  as  follows: 

Fruit  one  and  one-third  to  one  and  one-half 
inch  long,  about  one-half  wide,  elliptical  in  outline, 
not  conspicuously  narrowed  at  apex,  widest  near 
middle;  dull  purplish  bay  when  ripe;  the  flesh  one  to 
one  and  one-half  lines  thick,  becoming  very  firm 
and  dry;  seed  about  seven- tenths  as  long  as  fruit 
and  one-third  to  two-fifths  as  wide  as  long,  ventral 
channel  open.  Branches  of  fruit  clusters  pale  orange. 
Flavor  simple,  wholesome,  and  not  excessively  sweet; 
season  October  10. 

Finally,  natives  of  the  Ziban  distinguish  a  sub- 
variety,  Latin  ("the  color  of")  al  Halwa,  which  is 
slightly  smaller — perhaps  a  seedling  Halwa  in  origin. 


DATE      VARIETIES  243 

Hamraya,  Hamraia,  The  Red,  one  of  the 
commonest  names  for  a  date  variety  among  Arabs, 
and  several  have  been  introduced  to  California 
under  that  designation.  Hamraya  of  the  Ziban, 
Algeria,  is  an  attractive  soft  or  dry  date,  fairly  late 
in  bearing  but  yields  well.  The  natives  have  the 
idea  that  the  stored  dates  are  particularly  likely 
to  be  attacked  by  worms,  and  that  the  tree  is  more 
subject  than  any  other  to  the  ravages  of  the  Parlatoria 
scale,  (Parlatoria  blanchardi).  The  fruit  may  be 
described  as  follows: 

One  and  five-eighths  inch  long,  three-fourths 
inch  wide;  usually  broadest  about  middle,  tapering 
very  little  to  broadly  rounded  or  flattened  apex  and 
flattened  or  depressed  base.  Color  dark  purplish 
maroon  overspread  by  a  faint  bluish-gray  bloom; 
but  when  well  dried  the  thick,  tough  skin  separates 
from  the  flesh  and  becomes  fawn  colored,  or  dark 
Isabella  brown.  Calyx  persistent  and  dates  remain 
attached  to  cluster  indefinitely.  When  fresh  and 
soft  (rutab)  the  dates  are  a  beautiful,  bright  red. 
Flesh  one-eighth  inch  thick,  deep  golden  brown, 
firm  but  not  dry  or  hard.  Seed  one  inch  long,  one- 
fourth  wide,  uniform  throughout,  of  hazel  color, 
base  rounded,  apex  broadly  pointed,  ventral  channel 
broad  and  partly  closed,  germ  pore  in  center.  Flavor 
pronounced,  moderately  sweet,  not  cloying. 

The  Tunisian  Hamraya  is  a  dry  date,  which  has 
not  given  particularly  good  results  in  Arizona. 
Kearney  describes  it  under  the  name  of  Hamra,* 
as  follows : 

*He  correctly  points  out  that  this  is  the  proper  name  of  the 
date,  while  the  name  Hamraya  designates  rather  the  palm  which 
bears  a  Hamra  date.  In  practice,  the  distinction  is  very  rarely 
made  among  Arabs,  however.  Hamr&  is  the  feminine  form  of  the 


244  DATE    GROWING 

Fruit  one  and  one-half  to  two  inches  long,  about 
one-half  as  wide,  egg-shaped,  tapering  from  near  the 
base  to  rounded  apex;  bright  purplish  maroon  when 
ripe,  the  colors  very  handsome.  Flesh  one  to  three 
lines  thick,  becoming  quite  firm,  the  dark-colored 
outer  zone  thicker  than  the  white,  central  portion; 
seed  two-thirds  to  four-fifths  as  long  as  the  fruit, 
generally  about  two-fifths  as  wide  as  long,  sometimes 
with  strongly  developed  wing-like  ridges  on  sides, 
ventral  channel  generally  open,  germ  pore  generally 
near  middle  but  sometimes  almost  at  base;  flavor 
mediocre.  Branches  of  fruit  clusters  cadmium  orange. 
Season  about  November  1.  Not  much  esteemed  by 
natives;  said  to  keep  very  well. 

A  date  of  the  same  name,  brought  from  the 
Mzab,  has  done  well  in  the  United  States,  although 
its  keeping  qualities  are  none  too  good.  It  is  softer 
than  the  preceding,  and  a  little  larger;  apparently 
there  is  not  much  difference  between  it  and  the 
Ziban  Hamraya. 

All  three  varieties  seem  related,  and  probably 
several  minor  varieties  of  similar  names*  in  Algeria 
are  also  related  to  them.  While  not  of  first  quality, 
they  will  always  have  a  certain  amount  of  popularity 
because  of  their  coloring. 

Hasan  Efendi,  a  man's  name,  probably  that  of 
owner  of  the  palm;  a  rare  and  commercially  un- 

adjective;  the  masculine  Ahmar  is  oftien  found  in  conjunction  with 
date  variety  names. 

*e.  g.,  the  Hamraya  of  Al  Arus  (The  Bridegroom),  which  is 
sometimes  called  merely  Hamraya,  and  from  its  description  is  about 
like  that  from  the  Ziban;  Hamra  Misabeh,  The  Juicy  Red,  "a  small 
date  with  large  seed;  red,  later  turning  black";  Hamra  Bishri, 
variously  described  as  a  soft  or  dry  date;  Ahmar  bu  Amar,  etc. 


DATE      VARIETIES  245 

important  Baghdad  date,  somewhat  similar  to 
Maktum.  It  bore  at  Indio,  California,  for  the  first 
time  this  year.  Fairly  early. 

Hasawi,  "From  Hasa, "  an  uncommon  date  at 
Busreh,  but  much  prized.  As  to  its  history  I  know 
nothing,  but  its  name  and  general  appearance  lead 
me  to  think  it  might  be  a  degenerate  form  of  the 
Khalaseh  of  Hasa,  or  even  a  seedling  of  that  variety. 
The  fruit  is  described  as  bearing  a  close  resemblance 
to  Halawi,  ripening  among  the  earliest  (in  the  first 
part  of  September),  good  to  eat  at  any  stage,  and 
keeping  well  when  packed.  The  annual  yield  of  a 
palm  is  large,  but  does  not  begin  so  early  as  Halawi 
or  Khadhrawi.  New  to  America. 

Hayani,  see  Birket  al  Hajji. 

Hilali,  Hellali,  Moonbeams,  a  soft  date  grown  in 
the  Persian  Gulf  plantations,  and  noteworthy  as  the 
latest  of  the  region.  It  is  fairly  common  in  Oman  and 
at  Busreh,  and  provides  fresh  (rutab)  dates  up  to 
December.  In  this  condition  it  is  the  most  delicious 
I  have  ever  tasted.  Has  been  successful  in  the 
United  States,  but  will  never  be  desirable  for  planting 
on  a  large  scale  because  of  its  tardy  maturity.  In  the 
Persian  Gulf  region  this  date  is  sometimes  boiled  for 
preservation;  it  does  not  cure  well  naturally.  Fruit 
one  and  one-fourth  inch  long,  one  inch  wide,  broadest 
just  below  apex,  which  is  very  broad  and  blunt.  Color 
golden  yellow  shading  to  straw  at  the  base.  Flesh 
soft  and  delicate,  melting,  golden  yellow  in  color; 
thick.  Seed  small,  slight  amount  of  fibre.  A  shy 
bearer. 


246  DATE     GROWING 

Hurra,  Horra,  Harra,  Herra,  Hourra,  The 
Noble  (i.e.,  well-born),  a  large  and  attractive  dry 
date  from  Algeria  and  Tunisia,  which  has  given 
good  results  in  the  United  States.  In  some  parts 
of  Tunisia  where  Deglet  Ntir  is  not  grown,  Hurra 
is  considered  the  finest  date,  and  many  French 
residents  prefer  it  to  the  softer  and  sweeter  dessert 
date.  The  palm,  which  ripens  its  fruits  in  October, 
is  resistant  to  alkali  and  seems  to  thrive  without  a 
great  deal  of  care. 

The  date  is  two  inches  long,  one-half  as  wide, 
ovate,  narrowed  from  the  base  to  the  rounded  apex, 
rather  dull  purplish  maroon  in  color,  with  pro- 
nounced bloom :  (in  Algeria  it  is  lighter  in  color  and 
correspondingly  more  attractive  in  appearance). 
Flesh  three-sixteenths  inch  thick,  white  central 
zone  much  thicker  than  dark  outer  portion;  firm, 
becoming  dry  but  never  hard  or  brittle.  Seed 
irregular  in  size,  averaging  one  inch  long  and  two- 
fifths  as  wide,  ventral  channel  closed,  germ  pore 
above  middle,  sometimes  near  apex.  Flavor  rich 
and  nutty.  (Kearney.) 

Huwayzi,  Hwezi,  named  after  town  of  Huwayzeh 
on  coast  of  Persia,  famous  since  antiquity  for  its 
dates.  The  name  is  often  corrupted  to  Hevezi, 
and  frequently  confounded  with  'Awaydi.  A  choice 
Busreh  soft  date  which  is  usually  eaten  fresh;  the 
Arabs  say  it  is  inferior  when  cured,  but  this  statement 
is  hardly  justified.  A  fairly  long,  slender  date,  more 
or  less  similar  to  Halawi  both  in  shape  and  color, 
which  is  light  brown.  Ripens  the  last  week  of 
September,  The  palm  bears  well  from  an  early  age, 
but  is  not  common.  Flavor  delicate  and  pleasant. 


DATE      VARIETIES  247 

The  fruit  will  keep  for  five  or  six  months  in  good 
condition;  experimental  shipments  to  New  York  have 
been  successful. 

Ibrahimi,  Abraham's  Date,  a  variety  so  much 
confused  with  Brim  and  Sayyid  Ibrahim  that  it  is 
difficult  to  get  a  full  description  of  it  at  Baghdad, 
where  it  is  rather  rare.  It  is  one  of  the  earliest  dates 
of  the  region,  ripening  late  in  July  if  the  season  is 
favorable.  It  is  large  and  fat,  short  in  proportion 
to  its  breadth;  its  color  when  fresh  is  sorrel,  but 
becomes  darker  when  cured.  The  palm  is  said  to 
yield  well,  and  the  fresh  dates  to  be  good,  but  if  allowed 
to  remain  on  the  tree  they  take  on  a  rather  un- 
pleasant flavor.  For  this  reason  it  is  not  often  packed, 
although  it  is  not  too  soft  to  keep  well. 

Ibrahimi,  vulgarly  Ibrimi,  Abraham's  Date, 
one  of  the  largest  and  most  famous  of  Nubian  dates, 
sometimes  reaching  a  length  of  three  and  one-half 
inches,  according  to  Schweinfurth.  It  is  a  common 
variety,  growing  in  sandy  soil.  In  form  it  is  usually 
slightly  curved,  and  tapering;  almost  cylindrical. 
Can  be  eaten  when  soft  and  fresh,  when  its  color  is 
yellowish-red;  later  the  flesh,  which  is  thick,  becomes 
firm  and  almost  dry,  sweet  and  delicate  in  flavor;  the 
base  of  the  fruit  turns  chestnut  in  color  while  the 
apex  usually  remains  red.  The  seed  is  very  dark 
brown,  and  small.  The  flavor  is  sometimes  compared 
to  that  of  a  carob  (Ceratonia  siliqua).  Season, 
September. 

One  of  the  centers  of  culture  of  this  variety  is  the 
town  of  Sukkut,  where  an  improved  type  is  supposed 
to  be  found;  hence  it  is  often  called  Sukkuti,  or, 
vulgarly,  Scotty. 


248  DATE    GROWING 

Specimens  in  the  United  States  are  still  too 
young  to  have  borne  fruit. 

Itima,  see  Yatimeh. 

Kanta,  Kenta,  The  Vigorous,  a  highly  prized 
dry  date  both  in  North  Africa  and  the  United  States. 
It  is  of  medium  size,  attractive  in  color,  of  good 
flavor,  bears  heavily,  keeps  remarkably  well,  and 
ripens  comparatively  early. 

Kearney  was  told  that  it  frequently  bore  330 
pounds  of  fruit,  and  heard  of  one  tree  that  was  said 
to  have  borne  770  pounds,  and  others  200  years  old 
that  bore  265  pounds  of  fruit  annually.  The  tall, 
stout  palm  is  characterized  by  broad  leaves  with 
numerous  long,  rather  narrow  leaflets.  The  long 
leafstalks  are  spiny  only  near  the  base.  Light 
orange  stalks  of  fruit-clusters  are  stout  and  horizontal 
or  ascending,  and  so  short  that  with  the  bunches  they 
do  not  equal  the  leafstalks.  The  clusters  themselves 
are  short,  thick  and  densely  crowded  with  fruit. 
The  palm  seems  to  be  resistant  to  alkali  if  it  is  on 
well-drained  soil. 

The  fruit  keeps  even  better  than  most  dry  dates, 
never  losing  its  shape  or  becoming  hard  and  brittle. 
Its  season  is  early  October. 

The  date  is  one  and  one-third  to  one  and  two- 
thirds  inch  long,  about  one-half  as  wide,  narrowed 
from  the  middle  or  above  it  to  the  broad  apex,  dull 
bay  colored  when  ripe,  the  skin  rufous  or  hazel  colored, 
smooth,  much  loosened  in  large  blisters.  Flesh  one- 
eighth  to  three-sixteenths  inch  thick,  dry  but  not 
hard.  Seed  somewhat  more  than  one-half  as  long  as 
the  fruit,  one-third  to  two-fifths  as  wide  as  it  is  long, 


HOW  THEY  PACK  DATES  AT  BUSREH,  ARABIA 

For  export  the  fruit  is  shipped  in  seventy-two  pound  boxes.     The  final  act 
of  the  packer  is  to  jump  on  top  of  the  fruit  in  order  to  press  it  down  more  firmly. 


DATE      VARIETIES  249 

rounded  at  both  ends,  Isabella  brown  in  color,  ventral 
channel  narrow,  open,  germ  pore  above  the  middle. 
Flavor  pleasantly  sweet,  wholesome,  nutty. 
(Kearney.) 

Kasbeh,  Kesba,  Kessebi,  El  Kseba,  The 
Profitable,  a  widespread  variety  in  Algeria  and 
Tunisia,  which  goes  back  to  the  beginnings  of  the 
scientific  date  industry  in  that  region,*  and  before 
the  origin  of  Deglet  Nur  held  the  place  which  that 
variety  now  holds  as  the  undisputed  leader.  This 
position  was  due  not  only  to  its  intrinsic  merits  but 
to  the  fact  that  it  is  one  of  the  famous  dates  of  Madina 
—the  Sayhanf — and  is  connected  in  a  most  honorable 
way  with  the  prophet  himself.  It  is  related  that 
Muhammad  happened  to  pass  under  it,  holding  the 
hand  of  his  son-in-law  'All,  whereupon  the  palm 
cried,  "This  is  Muhammad,  the  Prince  of  Prophets 
and  this  is  'All,  Prince  of  the  Pious  and  the  Progenitor 
of  the  Immaculate  Imams."  Hence  its  name,  "The 
Crier,  "f  and  the  veneration  in  which  it  has  always 
been  held,  so  that  it  has  been  spread  throughout  the 
Arabic  world  and  is  held  in  esteem  wherever  it  grows. 

*Arabs  accept  two  theories  as  to  the  origin  of  the  date  planta- 
tions of  Northern  Africa:  that  they  are  the  result  of  palms  brought 
back  by  the  first  pilgrims  from  that  region  who  visited  Mecca  and 
Madina;  and  that  they  were  introduced  by  "The  Lord  of  the  Two 
Horns,"  a  semi-mythical  personage  who  in  -this  case  is  perhaps 
Alexander  Severus.  Both  these  ideas  are  romance,  for  the  date  was 
probably  established  here  long  before  the  Christian  era.  See  Pliny, 
in  loc. 

fit  is  not  the  only  variety  which  was  moved  to  utterance  by  the 
presence  of  Muhammad.  Al  Wahshi  bent  its  head  and  said,  "Peace 
be  upon  you,"  when  it  saw  the  prophet  once  eating  its  fruit;  while 
a  palm  of  unknown  variety,  by  the  trunk  of  which  he  used  to  preach, 
gave  a  loud  groan  when  he  left  it  in  favor  of  a  regularly-made  pulpit. 
Muhammad  thereupon  went  to  it  and  embraced  it,  saying  to  his 
companions,  "If  I  had  not  embraced  it,  it  would  have  continued 
groaning  until  the  day  of  resurrection."  Ibn  Batutah,  ed.  Paris, 
1853,  vol.  I,  p.  275. 


250  DATE    GROWING 

Al  Bakri  says,*  in  the  eleventh  century,  "One  finds 
at  Biskra  all  varieties  of  dates:  that  which  is  called 
Al  Kasbeh,  and  which  is  identical  with  Sayhani, 
surpasses  all  the  others,  to  the  extent  that  it  has  a 
proverbial  reputation;"  and  even  up  to  the  present 
century  this  variety  has  always  been  specified  in 
making  a  charm  to  cure  malaria.  Readers  who  live 
in  mosquito-infested  regions  may  be  glad  to  possess 
the  secret:  you  take  three  date  seeds  of  this  variety, 
write  on  the  first  Karun,  on  the  second  Artin  and  on 
the  third  Harun;f  throw  one  of  them  into  a  fire  each 
day  at  the  time  when  the  chill  is  due,  and  by  the  third 
day  you  will  be  entirely  cured,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God. 

The  date  is  of  medium  size,  and  soft,  but  is 
sometimes  allowed  to  dry  on  the  tree,  when  it  becomes 
a  typical  dry  date,  of  good  consistency.  The  Arabs 
of  Algeria  regularly  ripen  it  by  a  slow  artificial  process, 
picking  it  about  September  15  and  putting  it  in  a 
bag ;  in  ten  days  it  is  ripe,  juicy ,  and  yellow  in  color.  If 
left  on  the  palm,  it  ripens  about  October  1.  As  the 
flavor  is  good  and  the  keeping  and  shipping  qualities 
leave  nothing  to  be  desired,  this  date  has  become 
justly  valued  in  the  United  States. 

The  foliage  is  characterized  by  having  few  spines, 
and  these  slender  and  weak.  The  branches  of  the 
fruit-clusters  are  deep  orange. 

The  fruit  itself  is  one  and  three-quarters  inch 
long,  three-quarters  inch  broad,  widest  near  base, 
thence  tapering  slightly  to  bluntly  pointed  apex  and 
flattened  or  depressed  base.  Golden  brown  to 

*A1  Bakri,  Descr.  of  No.  Africa,  tr.  by  M.  de  Slane.    Paris, 
1869,  p.  126.    The  book  was  finished  in  1068  A.  D. 

fThese  are  doubtless  the  names  of  demons  whom  it  is  hoped  to 
destroy. 


DATE      VARIETIES  251 

chestnut  in  color.  Skin  thin  but  fairly  tough, 
usually  adhering  closely  to  flesh  but  sometimes 
loosely  wrinkled  in  large,  longitudinal  folds.  Flesh 
three-sixteenths  inch  thick,  soft  in  fresh  specimens, 
firm  when  they  are  well  cured,  but  never  hard  or  dry. 
Seed  large,  fifteen-sixteenths  inch  long,  three-eighths 
broad,  cinnamon  brown  to  chamois  in  color,  ventral 
channel  open  and  deep,  germ  pore  slightly  nearer 
base  than  apex.  Flavor  sweet,  slightly  heavy  but 
not  cloying. 

Few  Algerian  dates  have  more  sub-varieties  than 
this — in  California  alone  two  palms  have  been  grown 
under  the  name,  one  of  them  producing  a  soft  and  the 
other  a  dry  date.  In  Algeria  there  are  a  dry  date 
known  as  "Medjel  Kesseba"  and  a  large  and  excellent 
but  very  rare  soft  date  known  as  the  Kasbeh  of 
Bin  Abdu-1  Aziz,  which  is  longer,  darker  in  color 
(looking  much  like  Yatimeh)  and  softer  than  Kasbeh. 
The  flesh  is  thicker  and  seed  smaller,  darker, and  more 
tapering,  the  germ  pore  nearer  apex  than  base.  The 
skin  wrinkles  more  profusely  in  longitudinal  folds; 
the  flavor  is  milder.  Despite  its  name,  I  do  not 
think  this  excellent  date  has  any  relationship  to 
Kasbeh. 

There  is,  however,  another  date  which  has 
been  introduced  to  California,  which  apparently  has 
a  genuine  relationship — Nakhleh  Zianeh  (q.v.)  which 
in  some  districts  is  called  Laun  al  Kasbeh,  i.e.,  the 
Color  of  Kasbeh,  a  word  which  suggests  that  it 
originated  as  a  seedling  of  the  more  famous  variety. 

Finally,  there  is  an  excellent  little  dry  date  of 
Algeria,  which  has  also  been  introduced  to  California 
but  has  not  yet  fruited,  that  is  called  Kasbet  Amireh, 
i.e.,  the  Kasbeh  of  a  woman  named  Amireh.  This  is 


252  DATE    GROWING 

slightly  smaller  than  Kasbeh,  and  is  said  to  be  less 
affected  by  rain  at  the  time  of  ripening  than  any  other 
variety  of  the  region. 

Khadhrawi,  Khadrawi,  Khudrawee,  The 
Verdant.*  Next  to  Halawi,  the  most  important 
of  the  Busreh  dates,  and  the  staple  diet  of  wealthy 
Arabs,  who  rarely  offer  any  other  kind  to  visitors. 
It  has  proved  itself  better  adapted  to  conditions  in 
California  and  Arizona  than  any  other  Persian 
Gulf  variety  yet  tested,  and  this  fact  and  its  excel- 
lent qualities  insure  it  a  permanent  place  in  plantations 
here.  It  has  the  advantage  of  bearing  fruit  earlier 
than  any  other  offshoot  at  Busreh;  sometimes  in  the 
second  year  after  planting  and  usually  in  the  third, 
if  given  good  care.  It  ripens  its  dates  only  a  few 
days  later  than  Halawi  (say  September  15),  and 
bears  a  heavy  crop.  Its  mild,  satisfying  flavor, 
which  never  cloys  the  palate,  and  its  "coldness," 
cause  its  use  in  great  quantities  even  at  Baghdad, 
where  it  brings  as  high  a  price  as  Khustawi  and  many 
other  dessert  dates.  It  is  grown  only  to  slight  extent 
at  Baghdad,  but  is  rather  more  common  at  Mandali 
and  Diyala,  where  the  growers  consider  it  is  a  little 
larger  in  size  than  the  Busreh  product.  The  palm 
is  vigorous  and  healthy;  conspicuous  for  the  length  of 
its  spines  (sometimes  six  inches),  which  make  a  wide 
angle  with  the  petiole. 

As  seen  at  Busreh,  the  fruit  is  oblong  to  oblong- 
elliptical,  widest  at  or  near  center,  thence  tapering 
slightly  to  the  broad,  somewhat  flattened  base,  and 

*The  root  means  simply  green,  and  doubtless  refers  to  the  foliage 
of  the  palm.  Classical  lexicographers  pretend  the  variety  was  so 
named  because  the  fruit  falls  while  still  green,  but  as  that  is  not  the 
fact,  their  etymology  must  be  considered  fanciful. 


DATE      VARIETIES  253 

the  rounded  to  broadly  pointed  apex.  Size  medium 
large,  the  length  being  one  and  one-fourth  to  one  and 
three-fourths  inch,  width  three-fourths  to  seven- 
eighths  inch;  surface  fairly  smooth,  translucent  deep 
orange  brown  to  light  brown  in  color,  overspread 
with  a  thin,  bluish-gray  bloom;  skin  firm,  medium 
thick,  and  fairly  tough,  rarely  wrinkled  but  often 
separating  from  the  flesh  in  folds  or  blisters.  Flesh 
firm  and  meaty,  translucent  amber  brown  in  color, 
three-sixteenths  to  one-fourth  inch  thick.  Seed 
oblong-obovate  to  oblong-elliptical,  blunt  at  base 
and  broadly  pointed  at  apex,  seven-eighths  inch  long, 
three-eighths  wide;  smooth,  grayish  brown  or  russet 
in  color,  ventral  channel  narrow  or  almost  closed. 
Flavor  rich  and  extremely  pleasant,  never  cloying 
the  palate,  though  it  be  eaten  in  quantity  every  day. 

Khalaseh,  Khalasa,  Khalasi,  Khalas,  Quint- 
essence, a  name  well  describing  the  Arabic  estimate 
of  this,  the  most  famous  date  of  the  Persian  Gulf 
region.  Its  home  is  around  the  town  of  Hofhuf  in 
the  district  of  Al  Hasa,  anciently  called  Hajar;  the 
variety  has  been  spread  to  Oman,  Busreh,  some  of 
the  Persian  coast  districts,  and  I  even  found  one 
palm  at  Baghdad.  Its  fruit  was  formerly  exported 
very  widely,  to  Mesopotamia,  India,  and  even  Zanzi- 
bar; of  late  years  almost  the  whole  of  the  yield  has 
been  absorbed  by  the  nomads  of  the  interior  of 
Arabia,  who  are  thorough  connoisseurs  of  dates,  and 
send  their  caravans  each  year  to  Hofhuf  to  carry 
off  as  great  a  quantity  of  this  variety  as  is  obtainable. 

Little  definite  information  is  available  regarding 
the  culture  of  this  date  in  its  native  home,  but  it 
would  appear  to  be  fairly  plentiful,  for  the  Turkish 


254  DATE  -GROWING 

census  of  1871  counts  2,000,000  palms  around  Hofhuf . 
Our  principal  authority  is  the  English  Jesuit  Palgrave  * 
who  was,  I  believe,  the  first  to  bring  the  variety  to 
notice  in  recent  years.  He  writes: 

"Almost  the  whole  space  between  Hofhoof  and 
Mebarraz,  a  distance  of  about  three  miles,  is  filled 
up  with  gardens,  plantations  and  rushing  streams  of 
water.  Here  and  for  many  leagues  around  grow  the 
dates  entitled  Khalas — a  word  of  which  the  literal 
and  not  inappropriate  English  translation  is  'quint- 
essence,' a  species  peculiar  to  Hasa  and  facile 
princeps  of  its  kinds.  The  fruit  itself  is  rather 
smaller  than  the  Kaseem  date,  of  a  rich  amber  color, 
verging  on  ruddiness,  and  semi-transparent.  It 
would  be  absurd  to  attempt  by  description  to  give 
any  idea  of  its  taste;  but  I  beg  my  Indian  readers  at 
least  to  believe  that  a  'Massigaum'  mango  is  not 
more  superior  to  a  'Junglee'  than  is  the  Khalas 
fruit  to  that  current  in  Syrian  and  Egyptian  marts. 
In  a  word,  it  is  the  perfection  of  the  date.  The  tree 
that  bears  it  may  by  a  moderately  practiced  eye 
be  recognized  by  its  stem,  slenderer  than  that  of  the 
ordinary  palm,  its  less  tufted  foliage  and  its  smoother 

bark As  to  the  Khalas  in  particular,  its  cultivation 

is  an  important  item  among  the  rural  occupations  of 
Hasa,  its  harvest  an  abundant  source  of  wealth,  and 
its  exportation,  which  reaches  from  Mosoul  on  the 
northwest  to  Bombay  on  the  southeast,  nay,  I  believe, 
to  the  African  coast  of  Zanjibar,  forms  a  large  branch 
of  local  commerce." 

In  the  half  century  since  this  was  written,  Hasa 
has  been  entered  only  by  two  or  three  explorers, 
none  of  whom  has  added  much  to  this  account.  I 

*Palgrave,  W.  G.  Narrative  of  a  Year's  Journey  in  Central  and 
Eastern  Arabia.  London,  1863. 


DATE      VARIETIES  255 

tried  to  visit  Hofhuf  in  1912  but  was  forbidden  by 
the  Turkish  authorities  to  land,  as  they  refused  to 
be  answerable  for  my  safety;  and  in  this  they  were 
absolutely  justified,  since  earlier  in  the  year  a  newly 
appointed  governor  had  been  held  up  on  the  coast  for 
weeks,  buying  up  some  of  the  nomadic  shaykhs  and 
collecting  a  big  enough  escort  to  force  his  way  through 
the  rest  who  blocked  his  progress  to  his  capital. 
Since  then  the  Arabs  have  risen  and  expelled  the 
garrison,  and  the  province  is  plunged  into  an  anarchy 
which  will  probably  make  it  impossible  to  secure  any 
more  offshoots  for  some  years  to  come. 

In  Wadi  Samail  of  Oman,  however,  I  found 
nearly  1000  palms  of  this  variety,  and  was  told  by 
natives  that  in  some  of  the  interior  oases  it  was  quite 
common.  The  fruit  is  of  good  quality  there,  but  is 
admitted  by  its  owners  to  be  not  equal  to  that  of 
Hasa;  at  Busreh  and  other  coast  localities  it  is  inferior; 
at  Baghdad  good.  It  may  be  concluded,  then,  that 
this  palm  likes  a  dry  situation,  and,  probably,  sandy 
soil.  In  Hasa  it  is  irrigated  copiously,  and  largely 
from  hot  springs;  this  may  be  one  of  the  secrets 
of  its  excellence.  It  ripens  September  1,  or  earlier, 
and  the  yield  is  only  moderate — from  100  to  125 
pounds  a  year.  It  bears  fruit  at  an  early  age  after 
being  planted;  offshoots  are  considered  fairly  hardy. 
Only  a  limited  quantity  of  fruit  is  placed  on  sale  in 
the  Persian  Gulf  region  nowadays,  but  it  brings  twice 
the  price  of  other  varieties.  It  is  usually  packed  in 
five-gallon  kerosene  cans,  to  protect  it  from  sand  on 
the  caravan  route  to  the  coast;  for  the  interior  trade, 
I  presume  that  it  is  packed  in  skins  and  palm-leaf 
baskets.  In  Oman  one  of  the  favorite  methods  of 
keeping  it  is  to  extract  the  seeds  and  make  it  into 


256  DATE    CROWING 

a  paste  which  is  kept  in  cans;  thus  treated  it  will 
keep  indefinitely,  and  is  more  attractive  than  the 
paste  of  any  other  variety  of  date.  There  is  still 
some  export  from  Oman  to  Zanzibar,  particularly  in 
the  form  of  presents  from  Omani  growers  to  their 
relatives  in  the  African  island  (for  that  part  of 
Africa  was  colonized,  and  the  slave  trade  exploited, 
by  Arabs  from  Oman;  and  for  years  Zanzibar  formed 
an  integral  part  of  the  latter  kingdom.) 

Although  the  variety  comes  from  a  frostless 
locality,  it  has  proved  entirely  hardy  at  Baghdad, 
and  there  is  every  reason  to  suppose  that  it  will  be 
exactly  adapted  to  conditions  in  such  a  region  as 
Coachella  Valley.  It  has  not  yet  fruited  in  the 
United  States;  several  attempts  were  made  during 
the  last  decade  to  introduce  it,  principally  with  off- 
shoots secured  on  the  island  of  Bahrayn,  but  all 
failed.  This  year,  however,  it  was  imported  by  the 
West  India  Gardens  on  a  scale  large  enough  to  give 
every  chance  of  success.  I  secured  100  offshoots  in 
the  oases  of  Oman,  and  although  prevented  from 
entering  Hasa  personally,  was  yet  able  to  secure  400 
offshoots  from  that  region,  through  the  kindness  of 
Rev.  Gerrit  J.  Pennings  of  the  American  Mission  on 
the  island  of  Bahrayn.  He  secured  for  me  the 
services  of  a  capable  native,  Abdallah  b.  Mubarak, 
who  was  willing  to  take  the  risks  of  a  trip  to  the 
interior,  and  who  carried  out  his  commission  with 
ability,  in  the  face  of  a  good  deal  of  personal  danger, 
although  he  was  not  able  to  prevent  Beduin  raiders 
from  getting  away  with  several  camel  loads  of  the 
precious  plants,  on  his  way  back  to  the  coast. 

The  variety  is,  in  my  opinion,  fully  equal  to 
Deglet  Nur,  being  even  lighter  in  color  and  having 


0  fe 

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DATE      VARIETIES  257 

more  of  the  characteristic  flavor  which  is  usually 
associated  with  the  date.  By  Arab  packing  it 
sometimes  becomes  soft,  but  by  American  methods 
it  should  pack  fully  as  well  as  the  North  African  date, 
and  I  believe  that  when  American  Khalasehs  are 
put  on  the  market  they  will  be  considered  as  fine  a 
date  as  the  world  can  produce.  The  following 
description  is  of  specimens  obtained  directly  from 
Hofhuf:  Form  oblong  to  oblong-ovate,  slightly 
widest  at  or  near  the  center,  rounded  or  slightly 
flattened  at  the  base,  rounded  to  broadly  pointed  at 
the  apex.  Of  firm,  solid  consistency,  keeping  shape 
excellently.  Size  medium,  length  one  and  three- 
eighths  to  one  and  five-eighths  inch,  breadth 
three-fourths  to  seven-eighths  inch.  Surface  slightly 
sticky,  rather  smoother  than  the  average,  with  a 
delicate  satiny  sheen.  Color  light  orange  brown  with 
a  tinge  of  ruddiness  or  deep  reddish  amber.  So 
translucent  that  the  outline  of  the  seed  can  almost 
be  seen.  Bloom  slight,  bluish  gray.  Skin  firm  but 
quite  tender,  adhering  closely  except  for  an  occasional 
small  fold  or  blister,  loosely  wrinkled  indiscriminately, 
but  not  deeply  so.  Flesh  firm  and  solid  but  very 
tender,  caramel-like  in  consistency,  of  delicate  texture, 
one-quarter  inch  in  thickness,  reddish  amber  in  color 
and  entirely  free  from  fibre.  Seed  oblong-elliptical, 
slightly  pointed  at  both  base  and  apex,  three-fourths 
to  seven-eighths  inch  in  length,  one-quarter  to  three- 
eighths  inch  in  breadth,  broadest  near  center,  smooth, 
gray-brown  in  color,  ventral  channel  almost  or 
wholly  closed.  Flavor  delicate,  but  deliciously  bring- 
ing out  the  characteristic  date  taste. 


258  DATE    GROWING 

Khanayzi,  Khaiiezi,  said  to  be  the  name  of  a 
tribe;  a  soft  date  from  Oman,  also  found  in  limited 
quantity  at  Busreh.  It  is  considered  one  of  the  best 
general  purpose  varieties  of  the  region  and  is  eaten 
fresh,  cured  or  boiled.  In  appearance  it  closely 
resembles  Khasab,  but  is  earlier,  ripening  in  September. 
The  yield  varies  greatly,  sometimes  being  large  and 
in  other  years  insignificant,  but  it  is  probable  that 
this  characteristic  will  be  overcome  by  proper  treat- 
ment. The  only  specimens  which  I  have  seen  were 
boiled;  they  may  be  described  as  follows: 

Length  one  and  one-fourth  inch,  breadth  eleven- 
sixteenths,  usually  broadest  about  middle;  apex 
bluntly  pointed.  Dark  reddish  brown  in  color 
(this  is  said  to  be  the  color  of  the  fresh  date,  too). 
Flesh  one-eighth  to  three-sixteenths  inch  thick; 
soft,  not  brittle.  Seed  small  but  thick;  three-fourths 
inch  long,  one-fourth  wide;  tight  in  cavity;  no  fibre. 
Flavor  of  the  boiled  date  insignificant,  but  when 
fresh  the  variety  is  considered  of  first  quality. 

Khustawi,  Khastawi,  Kustawi,  originally 
Khastawani  (Pers.),  The  Date  of  the  Grandees, 
a  delicious  dessert  date,  the  most  important  of  its 
type  at  Baghdad,  from  a  commercial  viewpoint,  and 
one  that  has  proved  admirably  adapted  to  American 
conditions.  At  Baghdad  it  is  considered  a  rather 
shy  bearer,  in  comparison  with  the  commoner  Zahidi, 
although  the  yield  is  from  75  to  150  pounds.  The 
dates  ripen  fairly  early,  in  the  first  half  of  September. 
They  pack  well  and  keep  well;  Arabs  assert  that 
they  are  the  least  liable  to  attacks  of  worms.  This 
date  is  certain  always  to  be  a  favorite  with  those  who 
like  the  richer  and  sweeter  varieties  of  this  fruit. 


DATE      VARIETIES  259 

Arabs  easily  distinguish  the  palm  in  a  plantation 
by  the  dark  yellowish  color  of  the  petioles  and  lower 
part  of  the  leaves,  as  compared,  for  instance,  with  the 
lighter  colored  and  strictly  glaucous  Zahidi.  Its 
spines  are  stout  but  rather  short,  inclined  at  a  sharp 
angle  to  the  petiole.  Offshoots  are  always  small  in 
size. 

In  form,  the  date  is  oblong-oval,  broadest  near 
center  and  narrowing  gradually  toward  the  rounded 
or  slightly  flattened  base  and  the  rounded  apex. 
Size  medium,  length  one  to  one  and  one-half  inch, 
breadth  three-fourths  to  seven-eighths  inch.  Surface 
smooth,  glossy,  translucent  orange  brown  to  bright 
brown  in  color,  bloom  unnoticeable.  Skin  rather 
thin  and  delicate,  usually  without  wrinkles  or  folds, 
adhering  closely  to  the  flesh,  which  is  translucent 
golden  brown  in  color,  entirely  free  from  fibre  around 
seed,  one-fourth  inch  thick,  possessing  the  caramel 
consistency  to  a  high  degree.  Seed  small,  oblong- 
obovate,  slightly  pointed  at  each  end,  three-quarters 
inch  long,  five-sixteenths  inch  wide,  smooth,  russet, 
ventral  channel  open.  Flavor  unusually  rich  on 
account  of  the  syrup  with  which  the  whole  fruit  is 
filled,  yet  not  cloying;  the  characteristic  date  taste 
pronounced. 

Laqu,  Lagoo,  Lagou,  The  Distorted  Mouth  (?) 
from  its  peculiar  curved  outline;  the  word  originally 
means  a  kind  of  facial  paralysis.  An  early  and 
esteemed  Tunisian  soft  date  which  has  given  good 
results  in  California.  It  is  an  important  date  in  the 
native  export  trade,  because  of  its  excellent  shipping 
qualities  and  the  fact  that  it  keeps  its  shape  well. 
Ripens  in  September. 


260  DATE    GROWING 

The  crown  of  foliage  on  a  Laqu  palm  is  rather 
small,  leaves  short  and  rather  stiff,  with  long  and 
rather  wide  leaflets.  The  short,  densely  crowded 
fruit-clusters  do  not  equal  the  leafstalks.  Stalks  and 
branches  of  the  fruit-clusters  are  orange  colored. 

The  date,  as  grown  in  California,  is  one  and 
three-fourths  inch  long,  three  fourths  inch  wide, 
bay,  chestnut  or  maroon  in  color;  oblong  but  usually 
slightly  curved,  base  flattened,  usually  depressed, 
apex  broadly  pointed.  Skin  fairly  thick  but  tender, 
shiny,  ochraceous,  often  raised  in  large  blisters  but 
not  otherwise  wrinkled  or  creased.  Flesh  one-eighth 
inch  thick,  golden  brown  in  color,  rather  tough.  Seed 
one  and  one-eighth  inch  long,  five-sixteenths  wide, 
tapering  very  little  from  rounded  base  to  broadly 
pointed  apex,  russet  color,  surface  roughened,  ventral 
channel  open,  germ  pore  below  middle  if  distinguish- 
able. Flavor  sweet,  heavy. 

Majhul,  Medjool,  Medjeheul,  "  Unknown, "  * 
such  a  strange  name  for  a  date  that  its  authenticity 
has  been  questioned;  yet  it  seems  that  this  is  the  name 
by  which  it  is  actually  known  in  commerce  in  the 
Tafilalet  region  and  Southern  Algeria  today.  It  is 
worthy  of  note,  however,  that  the  travelers  who 
explored  the  Tafilalet  oases  in  the  last  century  do  not 
mention  any  date  of  that  name  among  the  famous 
ones  of  the  region. f  As  a  result  of  an  investigation 

*Perfect  passive  participle  of  the  common  verb  jahal,  "to  be 
ignorant."  There  is  a  date  with  the  same  name  in  Madina,  Arabia. 

fGerhardt  Rohlfs  (Reise  durch  Marokko,  Bremen,  1868)  says 
the  best  are  Bu  Zakrf  (which  has  been  famous  in  the  Sahara  for 
centuries),  Bu  Hafs  and  Faqqiis.  W.  B.  Harris  (Tafilet,  London, 
1895)  says  the  best  are  Bu  Zakri  and  "Bou  Kefous"  by  which  he 
doubtless  means  Faqqus.  Both  these  varieties,  or  at  least  ones  with 
identical  names,  are  still  found  in  Southern  Tunisia.  In  the  time  of 
Edrisi  (A.  D.  1154)  the  best  Tafilalet  date  was  Al  Birni  (Geography, 
p.  70;  tr.  by  Dozy  and  De  Goeje,  Leyden,  1866). 


DATE      VARIETIES  261 

recently  made  by  French  authorities,  it  was  learned 
that  some  of  the  educated  natives  considered  that  the 
name  was  originally  Madqul,*  which  would  be  perhaps 
an  ungrammatical  variation  on  the  word  Deglet;  this 
is  quite  possible,  but  in  any  event  the  significance  of 
the  name  would  be  the  same,  pointing  to  an  ad- 
ventitious variety  which  could  not  be  related  to  any 
of  those  formerly  known  by  the  oasis  dwellers.  In 
the  United  States  the  date  is  probably  more  often 
called  merely  by  the  name  of  its  locality,  Tafilalet,t 
and  in  London,  the  principal  market  for  the  variety, 
it  regularly  passes  under  the  corruption  of  Tafilat. 
The  Tafilalet  oases,  in  the  Saharan  part  of 
Morocco,  have  for  centuries  been  famous  for  their 
dates,  which  probably  owe  their  excellence  to  the 
intense  and  long-continued  summer  heat,  the 
abundant  water  supply,  and  the  skilful  cultivation  by 
the  residents.  Even  in  the  seventeenth  century  we 
are  told  that  "Most  of  the  dates  which  are  brought 
into  Europe  are  transported  from  Tafilalet  ".t  An 
examination  of  the  seedling  dates  of  Spain  suggests 
that  many  of  them  are  seedlings  of  Majhul;  there  is 
a  fine  avenue  of  old  palms  near  Malaga  which  can  be 
identified  as  this  variety  with  a  good  deal  of  certainty. 
Many  of  the  seedlings  grown  on  the  Pacific  coast  of 
Mexico  seem  to  be  of  the  same  strain.  Thousands  of 

*  Vulgar  perfect  passive  participle  of  verb  adqal,  "to  bear  daqal 
dates."  There  is  an  Algerian  variety  named  Mudqal,  which  is  the 
correct  form. 

fThis  I  consider  to  be  the  correct  spelling.  The  name  is  founded 
on  Filal,  a  district  in  Arabia  from  which  the  original  settlers  are 
reputed  to  have  come.  The  initial  Ta  is  a  Berber  word  oftener  seen 
in  the  form  Ait,  and  means  "sons  of,"  while  the  final  syllable  is 
merely  a  grammatical  addition  to  make  the  word  feminine.  The 
name,  therefore,  tells  that  this  is  the  district  peopled  by  Filal  immi- 
grants. The  French  often  use  the  contraction  Tafilelt. 

tOgilby,  John.    Africa,  p.  105.    London,  1670. 


262  DATE    G?R  OWING 

seedlings  have  been  planted  in  the  United  States 
during  the  past  few  years,  but  up  to  the  present  it 
has  been  impossible  to  secure  offshoots  on  a  commercial 
scale  because  of  the  state  of  anarchy  and  warfare  in 
which  Morocco  is  sunk;  a  few  authentic  offshoots  have 
nevertheless  been  brought  to  Southern  California  by 
the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  and  the  West  India 
Gardens  of  Altadena.  It  will  be  obvious,  however, 
that  the  variety  has  not  yet  had  a  test  in  the  United 
States,  and  all  plantations  of  it  are  made  merely 
because  of  its  general  merit  and  commercial  reputation. 

The  region  has  never  been  visited  by  a  date 
expert,  but  French  military  authorities  have  secured 
as  much  information  as  possible  about  Ma j mil,  at 
the  request  of  Dr.  L.  Trabut,  botanist  to  the  Algerian 
government,  and  through  his  courtesy  I  was  given 
access  to  their  reports. 

Majhul,  says  Lieut.  Neigel,*  is  found  in  large 
quantity  in  all  the  oases  of  Tafilalet,  particularly  in 
those  of  Ghorfa  and  Er  Reteb,  but  is  not  so  abundant 
as  other  varieties  of  inferior  quality.  The  people 
themselves  live  on  these  inferior  dates,  most  of  the 
Majhul  being  exported.  Those  from  Er  Reteb  are 
considered  the  finest  and  largest.  The  variety  is 
propagated  only  by  offshoots,  which,  transplanted  in 
February  or  March,  bear  in  from  four  to  six  years. 
They  do  not  demand  any  more  care  than  other 
varieties. 

The  dates  are  artificially  ripened,  as  follows; 
after  the  dates  have  turned  completely  yellow  the 
bunch  is  cut  and  they  are  picked  from  it,  care  being 
taken  not  to  detach  the  calyx  from  the  fruit,  as  this 
would  permit  the  entrance  of  dirt  and  insects.  They 
*Report  dated  March  26,  1912. 


DATE      VARIETIES  263 

are  then  spread  on  the  ground  in  the  sunshine  for  a 
week,  but  it  appears  that  they  are  not  removed  or 
protected  in  any  way  at  night,  the  chill  air  being 
supposed  to  make  them  firmer.  They  are  turned 
over  daily,  and  as  they  become  sufficiently  soft  they 
are  sorted  out  and  stored  until  exported. 

The  price  in  Tafilalet  at  harvest  time  varies 
according  to  the  abundance  of  the  crop,  from  thirty- 
five  to  ninety  cents  the  abbar,  a  weight  of  about 
fourteen  pounds.  Three-fourths  of  them  are  exported 
via  the  South  Algerian  Railway  and  Oran,  the  rest 
via  Fez  in  Morocco.  England  gets  the  bulk  of  the 
crop,  but  there  is  also  a  steady  demand  from  Spain; 
in  each  country  they  command  the  top  market  price. 

The  dates  usually  arrive  in  London  just  before 
Christmas,  and  there  is  a  great  demand  for  the  first 
ones,  the  price  at  wholesale  sometimes  reaching  ninety- 
two  shillings  per  hundredweight.  The  average  whole- 
sale price,  later  in  the  season,  is  forty  or  fifty  shillings, 
and  they  are  sold  by  retailers  at  twenty  to  twenty-five 
cents  a  pound,  while  the  Persian  Gulf  and  Egyptian 
dates  bring  five  to  ten  cents  a  pound.  In  Spain  the 
price  is  usually  about  twenty-five  cents.  At  present 
practically  none  of  these  dates  reach  the  American 
market. 

The  variety  is  evidently  late  in  maturing,  and 
probably  will  be  suited  only  to  the  hottest  and  dryest 
regions  in  the  United  States,  such  as  Coachella  or 
Imperial  Valley.  Because  of  its  large  size  and  good 
keeping  and  shipping  qualities,  it  promises  to  be  a  very 
profitable  one  if  it  can  be  successfully  grown  in  this 
country.  It  may  be  technically  described  as  follows: 

Form  broadly  oblong  varying  to  oblong-ovate, 
two  inches  in  length,  one  and  one-fourth  in  breadth, 


264  DATE    GROWING 

broadest  near  center  or  slightly  nearer  basal  end  and 
narrowing  slightly  toward  the  broadly  flattened  base 
and  broadly  pointed  apex;  surface  deeply  wrinkled 
and  creased  indiscriminately,  bright  bay  to  deep 
reddish  brown  in  color  (the  light  bay  color  is  perhaps 
due  to  crystallizing  of  sugar  under  the  skin) .  Skin  very 
thin  and  tender,  adhering  closely  to  flesh  over  the 
entire  fruit.  Flesh  firm,  meaty,  nearly  three-eighths 
inch  thick,  brownish-amber  in  color,  translucent,  with 
practically  no  fibre  around  seed.  Seed  one  and  one- 
fourth  inch  long,  three-eighths  inch  wide,  elliptical 
in  form  but  slightly  widest  near  apex;  smooth,  brown- 
ish gray,  germ  pore  nearer  base,  ventral  channel 
almost  closed.  Flavor  rich  and  delicious,  the  char- 
acteristic taste  of  the  date  being  pronounced. 

Makantishi,  M  'Kentichi,  Amekentichi,  Em- 
kentishi,  Kenteeshy,  Kentichi;  (the  word  Degla  is 
often  added  to  the  name  and  it  is  frequently  confused 
with  Mashi  Degla  of  similar  appearance),  The 
Early  Arriving.  A  small  dry  date  which  is  very 
common  in  Algeria,  probably  because  it  demands 
little  irrigation  or  fertilization.  Mountain  dwellers 
prefer  it  as  a  steady  diet,  and  in  the  oases  it  is  con- 
sidered the  best  food  for  children — perhaps  because 
it  is  cheap.  It  can  be  eaten  when  fresh  and  soft 
(rutab)  as  well  as  dry.  In  spite  of  its  name,  it  is 
not  particularly  precocious,  but  bears  fairly  heavily. 
Offshoots  are  notably  vigorous  and  hardy.  It  has 
done  well  in  the  United  States,  but  it  is  never  likely 
to  have  great  value,  as  there  are  so  many  larger  and 
better  dry  dates.  It  is  worth  noting,  however,  that 
this  is  one  of  the  two  dates  which  have  been  found, 
in  which  the  contents  remain  predominantly  cane 


«    n 

SI 

<J    X5 

B* 
fl 

S  J 


a 


3! 

S 


*.S 

03  ti 


DATE      VARIETIES  265 

sugar  to  the  very  end  (the  other  is  Deglet  Nur.) 
The  fruit  is  one  and  three-eighths  inch  long, 
eleven-sixteenths  wide,  often  slightly  curved,  broadest 
at  or  below  middle,  tapering  slowly  to  flattened  base 
and  more  abruptly  to  bluntly  pointed  apex.  Color 
deep  chrome  to  saffron,  with  a  slight  reddish  bloom. 
The  dull,  thin,  and  tender  skin  adheres  closely  to  the 
flesh,  which  is  raised  in  ridges  and  furrows,  mostly 
longitudinal.  Flesh  one-eighth  inch  thick,  nearly 
white,  hard  and  dry  but  rarely  brittle.  Seed  one  inch 
long,  five-sixteenths  wide,  rounded  at  both  ends, 
russet  to  wood  brown  in  color;  ventral  channel  open 
or  partly  closed,  germ  pore  slightly  nearer  apex. 
Flavor  sweet  and  nutty,  with  almost  no  astringency; 
agreeable. 

The  palm  is  tall  and  stout,  strong  and  vigorous, 
with  coarse,  heavy  foliage,  long  leaves,  and  numerous 
but  rather  distant  long  and  broad  leaflets.  Branches 
of  fruit-clusters  orange  buff;  their  stalks  are  curved, 
forming  nearly  a  semi-circle,  but  do  not  hang  down 
below  the  foliage.  Thrives  in  poor  soil  and  is  con- 
sidered resistant  to  alkali.  Reported  to  Kearney 
as  one  of  the  most  productive  varieties  in  Tunisia, 
and  so  highly  esteemed  by  natives  that  they  are 
reluctant  to  part  with  offshoots. 

Maktum,  Maktoom,  originally  Makdum,  The 
Bitten,  because  of  the  short,  transverse  scars  on  the 
skin,  which,  to  Arab  imagination,  resemble  the 
imprints  of  a  miniature  set  of  teeth.  A  rare  variety, 
but  as  good  as  any  in  Mesopotamia;  it  has  proved 
itself  admirably  adapted  to  California  and  Arizona 
conditions  as  well,  and  can  unhesitatingly  be  recom- 
mended for  commercial  planting.  It  is  certain  to 


266  DATE    GROWING 

have  a  permanent  popularity,  not  only  because  of  its 
superior  quality  but  because  of  its  relatively  large 
size.  It  is  not  common  even  around  Baghdad,  and 
always  brings  a  high  price  in  the  market;  the  com- 
mercial supply  seems  to  come  from  Mandali,  Karbala, 
and  Hilleh.  At  Busreh  it  is  very  rare,  ripens  about 
October  1,  and  is  reputed  to  be  a  shy  bearer.  There  is 
also  a  small  date  of  the  same  name  at  Busreh,  which 
I  did  not  see,  but  which  is  considered  almost  worthless, 
and  Arabs  say  that  it  is  merely  a  degenerated  form 
of  the  same  superb  variety.* 

At  Baghdad  it  ripens  late  in  September  or  early 
in  October,  and  is  said  to  bear  slightly  less  than 
Khustawi.  It  is  difficult  to  account  for  the  scarcity 
of  palms  of  this  variety  in  Mesopotamia,  unless  it  be 
because  the  Arabs  object  to  its  light  yield;  for  it  has 
almost  every  other  desirable  quality.  The  market 
is  usually  cleaned  of  Maktum  dates  within  a  short 
time  after  the  harvest,  and  no  offshoots  are  so  ex- 
pensive. 

In  the  United  States  the  variety  has  given  a 
heavier  yield,  due  probably  to  the  better  care  which  it 
receives.  Even  under  the  unfavorable  climatic  con- 
ditions of  the  Tempe,  Arizona,  garden,  the  fruit  is 
firm  enough  to  pack  in  small  boxes  and  sell  as  a 
dessert  date,  its  luscious  flavor  appealing  to  nearly 
everyone.  The  palm  there  shows  decided  vigor  in 
growth;  the  fruit  ripens  a  little  later  than  Halawi, 
and  is  practically  immune  from  damage  either  by 
winter  or  summer  rains. 

*Cf.  report  of  Major  F.  E.  Crow,  British  Consul  at  Busreh,  in 
Kew  Bui.  No.  7,  p.  286,  London,  1908:  "Maktum,  much  smaller 
than  Chibchab,  and  used  for  the  same  purpose,"  i.  e.,  boiled.  The 
occasional  degeneracy  of  the  best  varieties,  like  Deglet  Nur,  Khalaseh 
and  Maktum  is  a  subject  which  merits  study,  and  anyone  observing 
such  instances  should  report  on  them. 


DATE      VARIETIES  267 

The  fruit,  as  grown  at  Baghdad,  is  in  form  very 
broadly  oblong  to  oblong-obovate,  usually  slightly 
broader  near  center  of  fruit  and  narrowing  almost 
imperceptibly  toward  the  flattened  base  and  the 
flattened  to  broadly  rounded  or  abrupt  apex.  Size 
medium  large  to  large,  dimensions  being:  length, 
one  and  one-fourth  to  one  and  one-half  inch, 
breadth  at  widest  point,  seven-eighths  to  one  inch. 
Surface  uneven,  somewhat  glossy,  a  beautiful,  trans- 
lucent, golden  brown  in  color,  overspread  with  a  thin, 
bluish-gray  bloom.  Skin  firm,  medium  thick  but 
not  tough,  deeply  wrinkled  in  all  directions  and 
occasionally  separating  from  the  flesh  to  form  coarse 
folds  and  blisters.  Flesh  light  golden  brown,  trans- 
lucent, very  delicate  in  texture,  soft  and  almost 
melting  in  the  mouth,  three-eighths  to  five-eighths 
inch  thick.  Seed  broadly  oblong,  rounded  to  blunt 
at  base  and  tapering  sharply  to  apex,  length  three- 
fourths  to  seven-eighths  inch,  breadth  five-sixteenths 
inch,  surface  fairly  smooth,  cinnamon  brown  in 
color,  ventral  channel  almost  or  wholly  closed. 
Flavor  very  mild,  with  only  a  suggestion  of  the 
characteristic  taste  of  the  date,  in  which  respect  it 
resembles  the  Saharan  Deglet  Nur  more  closely  than 
any  other  Mesopotamian  date;  sweet  but  not  too 
much  so;  extremely  pleasant  and  not  cloying,  as  it 
contains  little  syrup. 

Fruit  grown  in  California  is  similar;  firm  enough 
to  be  handled  and  pack  well,  but  the  flesh  remains 
tender  and  melting  even  after  the  lapse  of  a  year. 
After  some  months,  however,  the  evaporation  of 
moisture  leaves  the  skin  in  large  blisters  of  a  tawny 
olive  color. 


268  DATE    GROWING 

Maktum  Ahmar,  The  Red  Maktum,  is  dis- 
tinguished by  the  Arabs  as  a  separate  variety,  al- 
though it  is  merely  an  inferior  form  of  the  preceding, 
which  is  sometimes  called  Maktum  Asfar  ("yellow"). 
The  red  variety  is  a  little  darker  in  color,  and  the 
flavor  is  said  to  be  not  quite  so  good,  but  it  is  rare 
and  commercially  of  no  importance. 

Manakhir,  Menakher,  Monakhir,  The  Nose 
Date  (lit.,  The  Nostrils),  a  rare,  large,  and  desirable 
variety  from  Tunisia.  The  only  specimens  in  the 
United  States  are  owned  by  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  and  there  seems  little  chance  of  getting 
more,  as  the  palm  is  almost  extinct  in  Tunisia.  The 
natives  account  for  this  by  the  story  that  their 
rulers,  under  the  old  regime,  acquired  a  great  fondness 
for  the  date,  and  sent  agents  into  the  region  at  harvest 
time  to  appropriate  the  entire  crop,  which  they 
usually  forgot  to  pay  for.*  Consequently  the  owners 
decided  it  would  be  more  profitable  to  them  to  grow 
a  poorer  date  which  they  themselves  could  enjoy,  and 
stopped  planting  Manakhir  offshoots,  even  cutting 
down  old  trees  in  some  cases.  The  few  trees  now 
left  are  jealously  guarded  by  their  wealthy  owners  and 
offshoots  can  not  be  had  at  any  price. 

The  date  is  soft,  dark  in  color,  and  somewhat 
similar  to  Deglet  Nur  in  flavor;  many  Americans  as 

This  is  an  old  story  in  Arab  communities.  Al  Bakri  says  that 
in  the  Zfban  almost  a  thousand  years  ago  "Ubayd  Allah  the  Fatimide 
decreed  and  reserved  for  his  own  use  all  the  harvest  of  Liari  dates 
and  ordered  the  local  officials  to  forbid  the  sale  of  this  variety  and 
send  all  that  were  grown  to  him."  Another  MS.  calls  the  variety 
Kabari;  the  writer  says  it  was  white  and  smooth,  but  I  can  not 
identify  it  with  any  variety  grown  there  now.  Al  Bakri,  Descr.  of 
No.  Africa,  1068  A.  D.  Tr.  by  de  Slane.  Paris,  1869.  P.  126. 
Kearney  says  the  rarity  of  the  variety  Selatny  (Sultani?)  in  Tunisia 
is  accounted  for  in  the  same  way  as  that  of  Manakhir. 


DATE      VARIETIES  269 

well  as  Arabs  consider  it  superior.  It  has  the  ad- 
vantage of  being  larger,  and  possibly  of  keeping 
better;  the  flesh  remains  soft  and  firm,  the  skin  dry 
and  clean.  It  has  a  considerable  amount  of  fibre 
in  the  seed  cavity,  however,  particularly  if  it  be  picked 
before  it  is  fully  ripe.  American  experience  has 
shown  this  characteristic  to  be  most  fully  developed 
while  the  palms  are  still  young;  those  in  California 
produced  inferior  fruit  during  their  first  few  years, 
but  have  been  improving  each  year.  The  date  in 
Arizona  seems  to  be  of  second  quality. 

The  fruit  is  late,  ripening  toward  the  first  of 
November.  The  yield  is  small  during  the  first  few 
years,  but  when  adult  the  palm  is  said  to  bear  as 
much  as  220  pounds,  single  clusters  sometimes  being 
heavier  than  a  strong  man  can  carry. 

The  palm  is  formidable  in  appearance,  leaves 
being  long,  broad,  and  rather  stiff  and  heavy,  crowded 
with  very  numerous  long  leaflets,  and  their  stalks 
armed  throughout  with  long,  stout  spines.  Fruit 
clusters  are  short  and  dense,  their  stalks  bright 
yellow,  rather  short,  stout  and  only  moderately 
curved,  so  that  the  dates  do  not  hang  down  below 
the  leaves  as  with  Deglet  Nur  and  many  other  va- 
rieties, but  are  almost  hidden  by  the  foliage.  It 
proved  sensitive  to  frost  last  winter. 

Fruit  from  two  to  two  and  one-third  inches  long, 
about  one-half  as  wide,  oblong,  broad  and  rounded  at 
both  ends,  dull  orange  yellow  before  maturity, 
brownish  maroon  when  ripe,  with  a  purplish  bloom. 
Flesh  one-fourth  inch  thick,  the  white,  fibrous  lining 
to  the  seed  cavity  well  developed.  Seed  one  inch  long, 
two-fifths  to  one-half  as  wide,  russet  to  chestnut 
colored,  its  surface  uniformly  roughened  with  small 


f70  DATE    GROWING 

pits  and  fine  wrinkles,  ventral  channel  frequently 
closed,  germ  pore  usually  distinct,  always  above 
middle  of  seed;  seed  broad  at  both  ends.  Flesh  soft 
and  sirupy  at  moment  of  ripening.  Flavor  delicate. 
(Kearney). 

Maridheh,  The  Invalid,  an  ordinary  soft  date 
from  the  Ziban  of  Algeria,  said  to  resemble  Kasbeh. 
It  is  described  as  light  reddish  brown  in  color,  broad  in 
proportion  to  its  length,  palatable,  keeping  well, 
and  ripening  in  mid-season.  The  yield  is  always 
good  and  sometimes  very  large.  Not  commercially 
important;  has  not  yet  fruited  in  the  United  States. 

Masarraf,  The  Marketable,  (?)  a  dry  date  from 
the  Ziban  of  Algeria,  which  has  never  been  common, 
but  boasts  of  great  antiquity  and  has  been  esteemed 
by  every  generation.  It  is  described  as  long  and 
slender,  light  brown  in  color,  flesh  firm  but  not  hard. 
If  picked  at  the  proper  stage  and  packed  closely  it 
remains  a  soft  date.  Yield  fairly  heavy;  season 
rather  late.  Occasionally  sold  in  Algiers,  where  it 
brings  a  good  price.  If  allowed  to  hang  on  the  palm 
until  thoroughly  dry  it  becomes  very  dark  in  color. 
Palms  of  the  varieties  Masarraf  and  Ghars  are  con- 
sidered the  two  best  for  making  laqmi,  on  account  of 
the  large  amount  of  sap  they  yield;  it  is,  therefore, 
probable  that  this  variety  is  a  vigorous  grower.  It 
has  not  yet  fruited  in  the  United  States. 

Mashi  Degla,  Mishi,  Mecha  Degla,  The 
Purgative  Seedling,  a  small  and  common  Algerian 
dry  date  which  is  often  confused  with  Makantishi. 
This  tall  palm  bears  a  heavy  crop  about  November  1. 


DATE      VARIETIES  271 

The  date  is  a  little  less  than  medium  size,  light  bay 
or  ochraceous  in  color,  the  flesh  thin,  dry  and  usually 
hard,  with  traces  of  astringency.  Not  desirable 
for  planting  in  the  United  States. 

Mirhage,  see  Amir  Hajj. 

Muznaj,  Meznag,  vulgarly  Bznag,  The  Thirst 
Producer,  one  of  the  earliest  of  Oman  dates,  and 
common.  It  is  usually  eaten  only  when  fresh,  or 
rutab.  The  yield  is  said  to  be  very  heavy,  a  palm 
often  carrying  twenty-five  clusters.  Fruit  is  long 
and  slender.  With  native  methods  the  dates  do  not 
keep  well — but  then,  they  rarely  have  a  chance. 
The  variety  has  not  yet  fruited  in  the  United  States. 
A  letter  from  Consul  Homer  Brett  in  Masqat  states 
that  the  first  dates  this  year  arrived  on  the  market 
there  May  20,  and  that  they  were  of  this  variety, 
grown  in  an  oasis  which  derives  its  water  supply 
from  a  spring  whose  temperature  is  105°  F. 

Naghal,  Nagal,  The  Bastard,  one  of  the  most 
popular  Oman  dates,  because  it  is  the  earliest  to 
ripen,  with  the  exception  of  Muznaj.  June  1  may  be 
taken  as  the  date  for  its  arrival  at  marketable  con- 
dition, in  an  ordinary  year.  The  date  is  of  medium 
size  or  a  little  larger,  long  and  slender,  light  brown  in 
color;  little  eaten  except  in  its  fresh  and  soft  condition, 
but  can  also  be  cured  and  keeps  well.  The  yield  of  a 
palm  of  this  variety  is  said  to  be  heavy.  Has  not 
yet  had  an  opportunity  to  show  what  it  can  do  in 
the  United  States,  but  when  the  offshoots  now  here 
come  into  bearing  they  are  likely  to  prove  of  great 
interest. 


272  DATE    G.R  OWING 

Najl  al  Pasha,  Nazi,  Nagl  el  Basha,  Child  of  the 
Pasha,  a  rare  but  highly  esteemed  Egyptian  variety 
which  has  produced  notably  good  fruit  in  Arizona. 
It  is  a  large  and  long  soft  date,  excellent  when  fresh, 
(in  which  condition  it  is  yellow  and  pulpy),  but  equally 
good  when  cured.  It  is  then  dark  brown,  the  flesh 
full  of  syrup  but  firm  enough  to  be  handled  easily 
and  ship  well.  Some  tasters  have  thought  they 
could  distinguish  a  slight  vanilla  flavor  in  it.  The 
variety,  which  is  similar  in  many  characteristics  to 
Birket  al  Hajji,  can  be  recommended  for  planting 
in  the  United  States.  It  matlires  in  October  in 
Arizona,  but  should  be  considerably  earlier  in  a  more 
favored  location.  According  to  some  writers  the 
name  is  properly  Naql  al  Pasha,  The  Pasha's  Dessert. 

Nakhleh  Zianeh,  The  Beautiful  Palm,  often 
called  by  ungrammatical  natives  Degla  Zayyin, 
The  Excellent  Seedling;  and  in  some  districts  Latin 
al  Kasbeh,  which  suggests  that  it  is  a  Kasbeh  seedling 
in  origin.  A  common  and  popular  soft  date  of  the 
Ziban  in  Algeria,  found  more  rarely  over  a  much 
larger  area.  Noted  particularly  for  its  heavy  yield, 
which  sometimes  reaches  660  pounds,  according  to 
native  estimates.  The  date  is  described  as  of  medium 
size,  dark  golden  brown  in  color,  flesh  firm  but  tender, 
and  of  excellent  flavor.  When  placed  on  the  market 
it  brings  as  good  a  price  as  any  variety  except  Deglet 
Nur.  Probably  rather  late  in  maturing ;  the  specimens 
in  the  United  States  have  not  yet  reached  a  bearing 
age. 

Nakhlet  al  Pasha,  The  Pasha 's  Palm,  an  Egyptian 
soft  date  growing  at  the  Mecca  Experiment  Station  in 


1 


DATE      VARIETIES  273 

California.  The  small,  dark  brown  dates  ripen  in 
late  September,  and  are  of  excellent  flavor  but  do 
not  keep  well.  The  yield  is  heavy.  It  is  doubtful 
whether  this  palm  is  correctly  labeled. 

Qintar,  colloquially  Al  Guntar,  The  Hundred- 
weight, probably  referring  to  its  yield.  One  of  the 
attractive  Persian  Gulf  varieties  recently  introduced 
to  the  United  States.  A  small  date,  but  highly 
prized  by  the  Busreh  Arabs.  It  is  so  full  of  syrup 
that  it  has  to  be  brought  from  the  palm  in  a  basin, 
but  if  cured  properly  this  drains  away,  leaving  a 
date  of  delicious  caramel  consistency,  quite  similar 
to  Khalaseh  in  flavor.  The  palm  begins  bearing  at 
the  age  of  seven  or  eight  years  in  Busreh;  its  fruits 
mature  late  in  September  or  early  in  October,  and  will 
keep  for  seven  or  eight  months.  The  variety  is 
rare. 

In  form  the  fruit  is  broadly  oblong  to  oval,  widest 
at  or  near  center,  narrowing  slightly  toward  the 
rounded  or  slightly  flattened  base  and  the  rounded 
apex.  Size  medium  small,  length  one  and  one- 
eighth  to  one  and  three-eighths  inch,  breadth  at 
widest  point  five-eighths  to  seven-eighths  inch. 
Surface  slightly  rough,  translucent  reddish  brown  to 
purplish  maroon  in  color,  overspread  with  a  thick 
bluish  bloom.  Skin  rather  thick  but  not  tough, 
coarsely  wrinkled  and  adhering  to  the  flesh  closely. 
Flesh  very  firm  and  of  caramel  consistency,  one- 
fourth  inch  in  thickness,  translucent,  deep  reddish 
amber  colored;  the  fibrous  lining  of  seed  cavity  almost 
wanting.  Seed  oblong-obovate,  blunt  at  base  and 
sharply  pointed  at  apex,  three-fourths  inch  long, 
five-sixteenths  inch  wide,  smooth,  fawn-colored, 


274  DATE    GROWING 

ventral  channel  almost  closed,  germ  pore  nearer  apex 
than  base.     Flavor  exceptionally  rich  and  pleasant. 

Qurn  al  Ghazal,  Qern  el  R'azal,  Guern  el  Rhezal, 
The  Gazelle's  Horn,  a  name  descriptive  of  the  pe- 
culiar appearance  of  this  long,  slender  and  curved 
date  from  Algeria  and  Tunisia.  It  is  found  in  very 
limited  numbers  in  all  the  oases,  and  is  said  to  be  one 
of  the  principal  varieties  at  Gabes,  Tunisia,  and  on 
the  island  of  Jerba.*  The  palm,  which  is  tall  and 
slender,  bears  heavily ;  the  date  is  described  as  reddish 
brown  in  color,  with  thin  flesh  which  is  firm,  or  even 
dry,  but  not  hard  or  brittle.  It  ripens  in  October. 

Qushf  Batash,  The  Sweetmeat  (Pers.),  one  of  the 
earliest  dates  of  Oman,  ripening  in  June,  sometimes 
even  in  the  first  half  of  May,  according  to  Arabs — 
but  it  should  be  remembered  that  an  Arab's  idea  of 
ripeness  is  not  that  of  an  American,  and  that  for  an 

*The  island  of  Jerba,  on  the  coast  of  Tunisia,  is  thought  by 
many  to  have  been  the  one  described  by  Homer  as  the  residence  of 
the  Lotus  Eaters.  In  that  case  the  fruit  which  so  attracted  them 
may  have  been  dates,  and  not  the  worthless  jujube  (Zizyphus  lotus) 
which  the  old  botanists  identified  as  the  object  of  the  description 
in  the  Odyssey. 

fThis  word  is  used  in  Oman  as  Degal  is  in  other  regions,  or  as 
Khalt  is  used  in  Tunisia,  to  designate  a  date  of  adventitious  origin, 
ordinarily  a  seedling;  and  often,  but  by  no  means  always,  it  indicates 
a  date  of  inferior  quality,  just  as  the  two  other  words  do.  Qush 
Batash  would,  therefore,  be  called  Degla  Batash  in  Algeria  or  at 
Baghdad,  and  Khalt  Batash  in  Tunisia.  For  strict  accuracy,  it 
should  be  transliterated  Qushsh  or  Qashsh.  The  etymology  is  dis- 
puted; many  authorities  relate  it  to  Kushsh,  a  word  which  designates 
the  pollen  of  the  male  palm;  others  see  in  it  a  Persian  root.  In 
general  the  classical  lexicographers  define  it  in  the  same  way  that 
they  do  the  word  Degal.  The  word  Khalt  is,  I  believe,  not  used 
classically  in  the  sense  which  it  carries  in  Tunisia:  it  means  "of 
mixed  blood;  of  uncertain  origin."  It  does  not,  as  has  been  said, 
mean  a  dry  date,  any  more  than  Degal  means  a  soft  date,  as  has 
sometimes  been  supposed  by  date  students. 


DATE      VARIETIES  275 

Arab  a  date  is  ripe  enough  to  eat  when  it  is  still  so 
hard  and  astringent  that  live  stock  would  hardly 
touch  it  in  the  United  States.  The  variety  is  rare, 
but  much  in  demand  because  of  its  earliness  and  its 
heavy  yield.  It  is  rarely  cured  because  there  is  such 
a  demand  for  fresh  dates  at  the  beginning  of  the 
season  that  they  are  never  given  a  chance  to  hang 
on  the  tree  after  they  are  edible.  The  fruit  is  de- 
scribed as  slender,  very  dark  brown  or  black  in  color. 
Has  not  yet  fruited  in  the  United  States. 

Qush  Farfara,  name  of  an  oasis  (the  word  is 
perhaps  formed  to  imitate  the  murmur  or  bubbling 
of  running  water),  sometimes  called  the  Farfara 
Fardh;  a  soft  date  of  Oman,  almost  identical  with  the 
genuine  Fardh  of  commerce,  but  growing  in  a  different 
region  and  ripening  a  month  earlier;  the  quality  is 
also  considered  slightly  inferior.  In  actual  practice 
the  two  dates  are  indiscriminately  mixed  together  for 
export.  A  common  variety,  but  not  a  very  heavy 
bearer.  Arabs  say  it  keeps  better  than  the  ordinary 
Fardh,  showing  no  deterioration  for  at  least  three 
years  after  it  is  picked. 

Its  remarkable  keeping  qualities  are  illustrated 
by  the  experience  of  a  sharp  dealer  at  Masqat,  who 
for  several  years,  when  the  Mecca  pilgrimage  fell  in 
summer,  sent  these  dates  to  Mecca  and  palmed  them 
off  on  the  pilgrims  as  fresh  dates  of  that  year's  crop; 
they  were  so  well  preserved  that  the  deception  was 
easy,  although  the  dates  when  sold  were  at  least  ten 
months  old.  They  were  put  on  the  market  earlier 
than  the  Mecca  dates  could  ripen,  and  the  speculator 
secured  a  fancy  price  for  them.  The  game  was 
finally  exposed  when  one  shipment  was  found  riddled 


276  DATE    GROWING 

by  worms;  as  these  are  never  found  in  dates  until 
they  have  been  stored  for  some  months,  the  pilgrims 
promptly  decided  that  the  dates  which  they  had 
been  buying  were  by  no  means  fresh  from  the  tree, 
as  represented,  and  they  drove  the  shrewd  Omani 
out  of  business. 

The  Farfara  Fardh  was  introduced  to  the  United 
States  only  in  the  present  year. 

Qush  Hasas,  The  Indigestible  (lit.,  rumblings  of 
the  belly),  a  small,  yellow,  dry  date  of  Oman,  much 
esteemed  by  the  Arabs  in  spite  of  its  name.  Has  not 
yet  fruited  in  the  United  States.  A  fairly  common 
variety  which  bears  well;  rarely  eaten  fresh,  as 
it  is  inferior  hi  that  stage.  Ripens  in  September, 
concurrently  with  Khanayzi  and  Khalaseh. 

Qush  Shahm,  Sheham,  The  Pulpy  (the  word 
originally  means  fat  meat,  but  is  also  regularly  used 
for  the  flesh  of  a  fruit).  An  early  soft  date  from 
Oman,  brought  to  the  United  States  only  this  year. 
It  is  of  medium  size,  long  in  proportion  to  its  breadth, 
yellow  when  fresh  but  later  turns  dark  brown.  The 
yield  is  fairly  heavy;  it  ripens  in  June,  when  it  is 
particularly  valued  as  rutab;  but  it  also  cures  and 
keeps  well.  It  is  highly  esteemed  by  the  Arabs. 

Qush  Zabad,  The  Butter  Date,  a  small  variety 
from  Oman,  and  one  of  the  best  soft  dates  of  that 
region.  Ripens  in  mid-September  and  is  said  to  bear 
very  heavily.  Good  when  fresh,  but  usually  cured, 
when  it  keeps  easily  for  a  year.  The  variety  is 
fairly  common  in  its  home;  has  not  yet  fruited  in 
America. 


DATE      VARIETIES  277 

The  date  is  one  and  seven-sixteenths  inch 
long,  fifteen-sixteenths  inch  wide,  broadest  near 
base  and  tapering  very  slightly  to  blunt  apex.  Color 
reddish  brown.  Skin  tender  and  color  of  cafe  au  lait 
when  it  blisters.  Has  a  tendency  to  stickiness,  but 
this  can  probably  be  obviated  by  proper  handling,  as 
the  flesh  has  an  excellent  caramel  consistency,  and 
is  one-quarter  inch  thick.  Seed  small,  three-quarters 
inch  long,  one-quarter  inch  wide,  tight  in  cavity; 
some  fibre,  but  soft  and  not  noticeable  in  eating. 
Flavor  mild. 

Rashidi,  see  Samani. 
Rhars,  see  Ghars. 

Rishti,  Arishti,  Arechti,  Archeti,  The  Feathery. 
With  the  definite  article  in  Arabic  it  is  Al  Rishti, 
pronounced  Ar  Rishti,  whence  the  incorrect  spelling 
which  has  become  current.  A  large  and  attractive 
date  from  Algeria  and  Tunisia,  noted  for  its  heavy 
yield.  Soft  but  firm,  admirable  for  keeping  and 
shipping;  eaten  at  all  stages.  It  is  the  favorite  date 
of  Algerian  Jews.  Some  natives  consider  it  best 
just  before  it  is  fully  soft,  others  declare  it  not  worth 
eating  until  it  has  been  stored  for  four  to  six  months. 
It  ripens  rather  late,  about  the  middle  of  October, 
and  frequently  bears  from  200  to  250  pounds  of  fruit. 
It  has  given  good  results  in  the  United  States,  but 
its  offshoots  have  proved  delicate  and  difficult  to 
root. 

The  palm  has  a  stout  trunk  but  particularly 
graceful  foliage,  as  its  name  indicates.  The  leaves  are 
green,  soft,  and  drooping,  leaflets  long,  narrow,  and 


278  DATE    GROWING 

rather  sparse,  spines  few,  slender  and  weak.     Stalks 
and  branches  of  the  fruit-clusters  are   pale  orange. 

Fruit  two  inches  long,  one  and  one-third  inch 
wide,  broadest  near  center  or  slightly  above,  tapering 
gently  to  rounded  or  bluntly  pointed  apex  and  flat 
or  depressed  base.  When  fresh  it  is  light  bay  or 
hazel  brown,  which  changes  to  dark  chestnut  as  the 
date  cures;  and  the  thin  and  tender  skin  at  the  same 
time  rises  in  loose,  indiscriminate  folds  and  blisters 
of  a  cinnamon  color.  Flesh  three-sixteenths  inch 
thick,  firm  but  tender.  Seed  one  and  one-fourth 
inch  long,  one-fourth  inch  wide,  brownish  terra 
cotta  color  with  some  gray  near  base,  rounded  or 
broadly  pointed  at  each  end,  germ  pore  slightly 
nearer  apex  than  base,  ventral  channel  deep  but 
nearly  or  quite  closed,  surface  of  seed  irregularly 
roughened.  Flavor  pronounced  but  agreeable,  nutty, 
not  cloying. 

Ruhm  al  Ghazal,  a  variety  brought  from  the 
oasis  of  Siwah  (Jupiter  Ammon  of  the  ancients) 
on  the  frontier  between  Egypt  and  Cyrenaica,  which 
has  produced  very  good  fruit  in  California.  It  may 
be  the  same  as  Ghazali  of  the  same  oasis,  which  is 
said  to  be  "not  very  productive,  though  its  dates 
are  marvelous  in  flavor,  appearance,  and  power 
to  keep  long. "  A  variety  of  the  same  name  grows 
in  the  delta  of  Egypt,  but  its  identity  and  relationships 
have  not  been  worked  out.  Dates  from  Siwah, 
recently  sent  to  the  United  States  under  the  name 
of  Gorm  Gazaly,  may  be  the  same  thing.* 

*S.  P.  I.  Inventory,  Dept.  of  Agric.,  No.  32896.  The  name  is 
there  translated  Antelope's  Abode;  it  is  more  likely  Jaram  al  Ghazal, 
The  Gazelle's  Dry  Date,  or  Qarm  al  Ghazal,  the  Gazelle's  Food. 


DATE      VARIETIES  279 

S'aidi,  a  date  grown  in  Kharjeh,  Siwah  and 
other  western  oases,  and  averred  by  its  friends  to 
have  the  finest  flavor  of  any  date  of  Egypt.  It 
is  probably  of  Nile  origin,  however,  S'aid  being  the 
time-honored  native  name  for  Upper  Egypt.  Ripens 
in  September.  It  is  the  chief  variety  in  the  oasis  of 
Kharjeh,  whence  it  is  exported  in  considerable 
quantities.  I  believe  that  only  seedlings  are  to  be 
found  in  the  United  States  at  present,  but  it  is  a 
promising  variety  for  such  locations  as  Coachella 
Valley. 

Samiani,  said  to  be  named  after  a  village,  one 
of  the  best  Egyptian  dates,  but  ripens  rather  late. 
Chiefly  grown  on  the  coast  near  Rosetta,  in  a  sandy 
soil,  and  without  inundation  or  surface  irrigation; 
exported  in  fancy  packages  at  remunerative  prices. 
The  fruit  is  described  as  thick,  almost  ovoid,  tapering 
at  apex;  amber  yellow  in  color,  spotted  or  smeared 
with  red.  Seed  small.  Flesh  thick  but  slightly 
coriaceous.  Has  not  yet  fruited  in  the  United 
States.  The  variety  is  sometimes  called  Rashidi. 

Sarna,  Sarni,  perhaps  originally  Sarma,  The 
Unirrigated  (lit.,  a  desert  without  water);  a  popular 
dry  date  of  Oman.  In  Samail  I  was  told  that  it 
ripened  late  in  August  and  was  not  eaten  rutab;  in 
Masqat  it  was  declared  to  ripen  in  June  and  to  be 
eaten  principally  fresh.  Possibly  two  varieties  are 
united  under  one  name;  in  each  case  the  color  was 
described  as  yellow.  The  date  is  said  to  be  round 
in  shape;  the  yield  average.  Offshoots  introduced 
to  California  have  not  yet  had  time  to  bear  fruit. 


280  DATEGROWING 

Sayir,  Sayer,  The  Fibrous  (?),  one  of  the  most 
widely  grown  dates  in  Mesopotamia,  although  of 
inferior  quality.  It  is  also  called  Usta'amran,  and 
by  that  name  is  usually  known  at  Baghdad;  some 
experts  profess  to  see  a  slight  difference  between  the 
two,  but  their  efforts  are  hardly  successful.  At 
Muhammarah  this  name  is  usually  corrupted  to 
Sa'amran;  Sta'amran  and  Sambran  are  other  vulgar 
pronunciations  sometimes  heard.  The  date  is  ex- 
ported to  America  to  a  limited  extent,  and  plays  an 
important  part  in  native  trade  in  the  Persian  Gulf; 
it  is  the  principal  date  grown  on  the  Euphrates  and 
the  middle  Tigris.  It  bears  heavily,  (shortly  before 
the  first  of  October  at  Busreh),  and  will  keep  for  a 
year  or  more.  Said  to  do  best  in  a  sandy  soil. 

Form  broadly  oblong  to  oblong-elliptical,  widest 
at  center  or  slightly  nearer  apical  end,  whence  it 
narrows  almost  imperceptibly  toward  the  flattened 
base  and  broadly  pointed  apex.  Size  medium  to 
medium  large,  length  one  and  one-fourth  to  one  and 
five-eighths  inch,  width  three-fourths  to  seven- 
eighths  inch;  surface  almost  smooth,  translucent, 
glossy  dark  orange  brown  in  color,  bloom  almost 
unnoticeable .  Skin  rather  thick  and  tough,  smooth 
except  for  occasional  wrinkles  or  longitudinal  folds 
in  which  it  separates  from  the  flesh,  which  is  rather 
soft,  syrupy,  one-fourth  to  three-eighths  inch  in 
thickness,  deep  amber  colored,  with  considerable 
tender  fibre  around  seed;  the  latter  broadly  oblong, 
rounded  to  blunt  at  both  ends,  three-quarters  inch 
long,  five-sixteenths  broad,  fairly  smooth,  grayish 
brown  in  color,  ventral  channel  nearly  closed,  germ 
pore  nearer  base  than  apex.  Flavor  very  sweet,  not 
cloying,  but  not  rich  or  distinctive  in  any  way.  The 


DATE      VARIETIES  281 

dark  color  of  this  date  is  its  principal  drawback.     It 
has  done  well  in  America. 

Sba  el  Aroosa.  See  Asabi  al  Arus. 

Shukkar,  Sugar,  a  fairly  common  date  around 
Baghdad,  and  much  esteemed,  selling  in  the  market 
for  a  higher  price  than  Khustawi.  In  general,  it  is 
only  eaten  fresh,  although  when  packed  in  skins  or 
boxes  it  keeps  well.  This  date  is  brown  in  color, 
rather  long  but  not  otherwise  large.  It  ripens  in 
midseason  and  bears  well. 

Siwi,  an  Egyptian  variety  new  to  California. 
Said  to  be  perfumed,  very  sweet  and  of  good  quality. 

Sukkari,  Sugary,  probably  would  get  more 
votes  than  any  other  if  the  Arabs  of  the  Baghdad 
region  were  asked  to  name  the  best  soft  date.  Sultan 
'Abdul  Hamid,  in  fact,  used  to  have  a  shipment  of 
dates  of  this  variety  sent  to  him  at  Constantinople 
every  year.  At  Baghdad  the  palm  is  rare;  it  is 
reputed  to  be  more  common  at  Baqubah  and  Mandali, 
but  never  appears  on  the  market.  Most  of  the  dates 
are  eaten  fresh,  but  they  also  pack  well.  The  palm 
is  vigorous  and  hardy,  but  a  shy  bearer,  ripening  its 
dates  from  the  middle  of  August  to  the  first  of 
September.  If  cured  properly  they  have  a  perfect 
caramel  consistency. 

The  date  is  oblong-ovate  to  elliptical  in  form, 
widest  at  or  near  center;  thence  narrowing  slightly 
toward  the  flattened  base  and  the  broadly  pointed 
apex.  Size  medium  large,  length  one  and  three- 
eighths  to  one  and  five-eighths  inch,  breadth  three- 


282  DATE    GROWING 

fourths  inch.  Surface  somewhat  rough,  translucent 
orange  brown  to  light  brown  in  color,  overlaid  with 
a  thick,  blue-gray  bloom.  Skin  thin  and  tender, 
deeply  wrinkled  in  all  directions  but  adhering  to  the 
flesh  closely.  Flesh  soft  and  very  delicate  in  texture, 
three-eighths  inch  thick,  clear,  translucent,  golden 
brown  in  color,  with  no  fibre  around  seed.  Seed 
oblong-elliptical,  almost  blunt  at  base  and  broadly 
pointed  at  apex,  three-fourths  inch  long,  five-sixteenths 
inch  broad,  smooth,  russet,  the  ventral  channel  open. 
Flavor  mild  and  delicate,  agreeably  rich  but  not  cloying. 

Sultani,  The  Sultan's  Date,  a  name  widely 
applied  in  Egypt  and  possibly  covering  more  than  one 
variety.  The  best  known  is  a  dry  date  grown  in 
sandy  soil  in  many  of  the  western  oases  (as  far  west 
as  Siwah)  and  also  in  Nubia.  Ripens  in  September. 
It  is  said  that  this  date  used  to  be  exported  to  Con- 
stantinople, where  it  was  eaten  by  the  Sultan,  hence 
its  name;  this  is  probably  a  fable.  The  variety  is 
short  in  proportion  to  its  breadth;  red  at  apex  and 
lighter  colored  at  base;  flesh  thin,  dry  and  rather 
brittle;  seed  large.  Said  to  be  aromatic. 

Said  to  be  also  called  Kilma,  in  Nubia. 
Delchevalerie  mentions  a  variety  of  the  same  name 
in  Lower  Egypt  (province  of  Sharqia),  which  he 
describes  as  orange  yellow,  when  fresh,  (in  which 
condition  it  is  generally  eaten),  chestnut  when  cured; 
large  and  perfumed.  He  says  it  is  also  called  Safar 
al  Dunya,  Voyage  in  the  World — possibly  because 
it  was  an  object  of  export.  It  may  be  the  Nubian 
date,  changed  by  climate. 

The  variety  has  not  yet  fruited  in  the  United 
States. 


DATE      VARIETIES  283 

Sultani,  The  Sultan's  Date,  a  variety  scarce  at 
Baghdad  but  thought  well  of,  ripening  about  the 
middle  of  August.  It  is  a  soft  date,  long  and  large, 
brown  in  color;  usually  consumed  fresh,  because 
of  its  earliness,  but  packs  well.  Has  not  yet  borne 
fruit  in  the  United  States. 

Sukkar  Nabat,  Refined  Sugar,  a  small,  yellow 
dry  date  of  Baghdad,  very  rare  but  highly  esteemed, 
the  Arabs  comparing  its  taste  to  that  of  candied 
honey.  The  flesh  is  granular,  but  particularly 
melting  for  a  dry  date. 

Sukkuti,  see  Ibrahimi. 

Tabirzal,  originally  Tabirzad  (Pers.),  "Sugar 
Candy,"  a  name  appropriate  to  its  peculiar  but 
delicious  flavor  of  burned  sugar.  It  is  always  accented 
on  the  middle  syllable.  Unquestionably  one  of  the 
best  varieties  at  Baghdad,  but  not  common,  and 
rarely  seen  in  the  bazar.  The  palm  has  the  peculiarity 
of  ripening  its  fruits  very  slowly ;  they  are  ripe  enough 
to  eat  in  September,  but  not  fully  ripe  until  well  on 
to  the  first  of  November.  It  is  also  the  only  Baghdad 
variety,  say  Arabs,  the  trunk  of  which  ever  branches. 
The  yield  is  moderate. 

Form  broadly  oblong-obovate,  widest  below 
center,  whence  it  narrows  slightly  to  the  flattened 
base  and  abruptly  to  the  broadly  pointed  apex. 
Size  medium,  length  one  and  one-eighth  to  one  and 
one-half  inch,  breadth  seven-eighths  to  one  and 
one-eighth  inch.  Surface  undulating,  translucent 
deep  orange  brown  in  color,  overspread  with  a  bluish 
gray  bloom.  Skin  thin  and  rather  tender,  coarsely 


284  DATE    G'RO  WING 

wrinkled  and  folded,  and  often  separating  from  the 
flesh,  which  is  soft  and  tender,  one-quarter  inch 
thick,  translucent  orange  brown  in  color;  fibrous 
lining  of  seed  cavity  almost  wanting.  Seed  broadly 
oblong,  rounded  at  both  ends,  five-eighths  to  three- 
quarters  inch  long,  five-sixteenths  inch  broad,  smooth, 
light  grayish  brown  in  color,  ventral  channel  narrow. 
Flavor  distinctive,  mild  and  pleasant,  sweet  but  not 
cloying. 

Tadala,  Tedalla,  a  large  soft  date  from  the 
Mzab  oases  of  Algeria,  where  natives  state  that  it 
sometimes  reaches  a  length  of  three  inches.  In 
California  and  Arizona  it  attains  a  length  of  two 
and  one-fourth  inches.  In  color  it  is  a  dull  amber, 
and  its  appearance  is  pleasing;  the  flesh  is  fairly 
firm  but  the  skin  excessively  tender,  so  that  even 
with  the  greatest  care  it  can  hardly  be  prevented 
from  breaking  when  the  fruit  is  taken  from  the  palm. 
The  season  is  early  October,  and  the  date  is  of  the 
rutab  class,  that  is,  its  fruit  is  good  only  when  fresh. 
After  being  picked,  it  soon  dries  and  shrivels,  losing 
all  flavor;  it  cannot,  therefore,  be  considered  a  good 
commercial  date,  and  should  not  be  planted  except 
in  limited  quantity  for  home  use. 

The  palm  is  vigorous  and  is  considered  a  heavy 
bearer;  its  leaves  droop  in  a  way  which  allows  it  to  be 
distinguished  among  others  without  great  difficulty. 
Considerable  confusion  exists  among  the  palms  of 
this  name  in  the  United  States;  three  of  the  four 
palms  at  Mecca,  California,  appear  to  be  seedlings, 
while  at  Tempe,  Arizona,  one  of  the  palms  listed  as 
Timjuhart  is  evidently  Tadala.  The  variety  is  not 
desirable  in  Arizona,  any  more  than  in  California, 


DATE      VARIETIES  285 

although  it  has  distinguished  itself  at  Tempe  by  the 
way  in  which  it  brings  its  fruit  to  maturity  regularly, 
despite  the  most  unfavorable  climatic  conditions. 

Tazizaut,  Tazizaoot,  a  soft  date  from  the  Mzab 
of  Algeria,  apparently  found  to  a  limited  extent  over 
a  much  larger  region  in  North  Africa,  although  its 
nomenclature  is  confused.  It  is  said  to  be  common, 
and  therefore  offers  great  possibilities  to  the 
commercial  growers  of  the  United  States,  as  it  is 
entirely  successful  here  and  can  probably  be  obtained 
in  sufficient  quantity  to  make  its  culture  worth  while. 
The  fruit  is  large  and  firm,  and  keeps  well,  showing 
little  deterioration  either  in  color  or  flavor  after 
the  lapse  of  a  year.  It  ripens  early  in  September, 
but  may  be  left  on  the  palm  for  a  month  more  without 
deterioration.  In  very  heavy  soils,  such  as  those  of 
the  Salt  River  Valley  of  Arizona,  it  is  later  in  maturing. 
It  resists  dampness  and  moisture  very  well.  The 
yield  is  large,  as  many  as  seventeen  fruit  clusters 
having  been  produced  in  the  fifth  year  and  twenty- 
two  in  the  eighth  year  on  a  palm  in  Coachella  Valley. 
The  variety  not  only  matures  but  ripens  perfectly  on 
the  tree. 

The  palm  is  strong  and  stout,  seems  equally  well 
suited  by  light  or  heavy  soil,  and  is  decidedly  hardy 
in  winter.  Its  foliage  is  notably  soft,  the  dry,  hard 
point  found  at  the  leaf  apex  of  most  varieties  being 
absent.  The  leaves  are  noticeably  recurving.  Off- 
shoots are  rather  difficult  to  handle,  however,  on 
account  of  their  loose  structure  and  the  low  situation 
of  the  terminal  bud;  Drummond  suggests  that  they 
be  propagated  in  a  very  light  soil  or  even  in  pure 
sand. 


$86  DATE    GROWING 

Bint  Qabaleh,  Bent  Keballa;  perhaps  the  proper 
spelling  is  Bint  Qibleh,  Daughter  of  the  South,  or 
Bint  Qabbaleh,  the  Kissable  Maiden;  one  traveler 
calls  it  Bint  Khabala,  which  would  mean  The 
Shriveled.  A  rare  variety  from  the  Mzab  of  Algeria, 
somewhat  similar  to  Yatimeh  or  Al  Qutar  (q.  v.); 
of  medium  size,  inclined  to  be  sticky,  but  of  attractive 
appearance  on  account  of  its  clear,  light,  amber  color. 
It  is  considered  by  the  Mzabites  one  of  their  best 
varieties,  but  although  it  has  done  well  in  the  United 
States  it  will  never  be  very  desirable  on  account  of 
its  softness — the  pulp  becomes  mushy  if  the  air  is 
humid  at  the  time  of  its  ripening.  If  carefully 
packed,  however,  it  keeps  well.  Ripens  soon  after 
the  first  of  October.  Offshoots  are  difficult  to  handle, 
by  reason  of  their  loose  make-up  and  the  low  position 
of  the  terminal  bud. 

Tafazwin,  Tafazween.  Sometimes  the  feminine 
form,  Tafazwint,  is  seen.  French  writers  call  it 
Tafazaouine.  A  large,  attractive  and  valuable  date 
from  Algeria  and  Tunisia,  which  has  given  excellent 
results  in  California.  It  can  be  used  either  as  a 
soft  or  dry  date,  according  to  the  stage  at  which  it  is 
picked  from  the  palm,  and  the  care  taken  in  handling 
it.  To  make  a  soft  date  it  should  be  picked  when  it 
begins  to  show  translucent  spots,  and  ripened  indoors. 
If  left  on  the  palm  it  will  become  dry,  but  never 
hard.  The  fruit  ripens  early  in  October,  the  yield 
being  fairly  heavy;  and  because  of  its  attractive 
appearance,  excellent  quality,  and  keeping  and 
shipping  properties,  it  is  certain  to  be  valuable. 

The  fruit  is  two  inches  long,  or  a  little  more,  and 
seven-eighths  inch  wide.  Bright  bay  color  when 


DATE      VARIETIES  287 

fresh,  it  changes  to  an  attractive  golden  brown  when 
it  cures,  and  the  blisters  of  the  skin  take  a  tan  or 
hazel  color.  The  date  is  thickest  just  below  the 
base,  tapering  slightly  to  the  bluntly  pointed  apex. 
The  base  is  flattened.  Skin  thin  and  tender,  adhering 
closely  to  flesh  but  indiscriminately  wrinkled;  some- 
times raised  in  long  folds  and  blisters.  Flesh  three- 
sixteenths  to  one-fourth  inch  thick,  firm  and  trans- 
lucent. Seed  one  and  one-fourth  inch  long,  five- 
sixteenths  inch  wide,  slender,  tight  in  cavity,  golden 
brown  in  color,  almost  uniform  in  width  throughout 
its  length,  rounded  to  broadly  pointed  at  each  end; 
ventral  channel  broadly  open,  germ  pore  close  to 
base.  Flavor  particularly  sweet,  delicate  and  agree- 
able but  not  cloying. 

Much  interest  has  been  created  in  Coachella 
Valley  by  a  palm  belonging  to  Fred  N.  Johnson  of 
Indio,  which  was  imported  as  an  offshoot  from  Tunis 
by  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  but  given  to  Mr. 
Johnson  without  a  label.  My  friend  and  colleague 
Henry  Simon,  of  Arabia,  California,  who  spent  the 
winter  of  1912-1913  in  Algeria  and  Tunisia,  and  gave 
particular  attention  to  the  identification  of  this 
palm  by  comparing  its  fruit  with  those  of  the  Sahara 
and  getting  the  opinions  of  Arab  growers,  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  it  was  Tafazwin,  but  with  some 
slight  differences  which  indicated  that  the  California 
palm  might  have  been  the  offshoot  of  a  particularly 
fine  seedling  Tafazwin.  I  concur  with  Mr.  Simon 
in  this  opinion,  but  in  order  that  the  reader  may  form 
his  own  judgment,  I  give  a  description  of  Mr.  Johnson's 
date: 

Fruit  two  inches  long,  seven-eighths  inch  wide, 
usually  tapering  slightly  from  base  to  apex  but 


288  DATE    GROWING 

sometimes  the  reverse.  Bright  bay  color,  verging 
on  cinnamon  at  the  base  and  chestnut  at  the  apex. 
Skin  thin  and  tender,  sometimes  raised  from  flesh 
in  straw-colored  blisters.  Often  marked  with 
numerous  short,  transverse  scars  (a  feature  that 
often,  but  not  always,  characterizes  the  Saharan 
Tafazwin).  Flesh  five-sixteenths  inch  thick,  trans- 
lucent; chestnut  colored  near  surface  verging  to 
straw  inside.  Some  fibre.  Seed  one  inch  long,  three- 
sixteenths  wide,  cinnamon  to  hazel  in  color,  ventral 
channel  open,  deep;  germ  pore  slightly  nearer  base 
than  apex.  Flavor  sweet  but  not  heavy;  good. 

The  giant  cells  of  this  date  are  nearly  spherical, 
while  Kearney  describes  those  of  his  Tunisian  speci- 
mens as  angular  and  two  or  three  times  as  long  as 
broad.  This  is  not  a  positive  point  of  evidence, 
however,  for  the  giant  cells  of  Tafazwins  which  I 
brought  from  Algeria  are  nearly  the  shape  of  those 
of  the  Indio  palm — round  or  even  pear  shaped, 
although  prevailingly  angular. 

With  this  evidence,  certainly  no  one  can  say 
with  confidence  that  the  Indio  palm  is  not  Tafazwin. 
Either  it  or  the  imported  palms  of  that  name  are  well 
worth  growing.  Dates  of  this  variety  which  I  have 
kept  loose  for  two  years  are  still  soft  and  in  almost 
as  good  condition  as  when  they  were  picked. 

Tanasin,  Tenaseen,  Tanessin,  Tenacine, 
Temacin,  probably  named  after  an  oasis  in  the 
Sahara,  a  black  date  of  medium  size  which  has 
proved  successful  in  the  United  States,  particularly 
in  Arizona.  The  palm  is  distinguished  by  its 
horizontal  or  umbrella-like  crown  of  foliage. 


BIRKET   AL    HAJJI    PALM    FROM    EGYPT 

Lost  many  leaves  by  frost  in 


Considered  the  best  variety  for  Arizona. 
January,  1913,  but  its  crop  was  uninjured. 


DATE      VARIETIES  289 

Fruit  one  and  one-half  inch  long,  about  one- 
half  as  wide,  broadest  near  middle,  and  rounded  at 
both  ends.  Color  very  dark  brown  or  black.  Skin 
thick  but  tender,  adhering  closely  to  very  dark  brown 
or  almost  black  flesh  one-fourth  inch  thick,  soft  and 
melting  unless  the  fruit  has  been  thoroughly  cured, 
when  it  becomes  firm  but  usually  slightly  sticky. 
Seed  seven-eighths  inch  long,  one-fourth  wide,  slender 
and  of  almost  uniform  width;  hazel  in  color  with 
areas  of  chestnut.  Ventral  channel  open  and  deep, 
germ  pore  nearer  apex  than  base.  Flavor  agreeably 
sweet  and  slightly  nutty,  mild  and  not  cloying. 

The  date  of  this  name  described  by  Kearney  in 
Tunisia  seems  slightly  different.  The  Tanasin  palm 
at  Tempe,  Arizona,  is  from  the  Oued  Righ  of  Algeria, 
where  I  also  obtained  my  specimens.  It  matures  in 
midseason  and  is  particularly  prized  because  of  the 
evenness  with  which  all  berries  on  the  cluster  ripen  at 
one  time.  In  native  commerce  it  is  usually  sold 
pressed  into  skins,  and  a  mixture  of  Tanasin, 
Tantabusht,  and  Deglet  Nur,  jammed  together  in 
this  manner,  is  said  to  be  the  nomad's  idea  of  the 
extreme  of  high  living. 

Tantabusht,  Tantaboucht,  Tantaboosht,  an 
Algerian  and  Tunisian  variety  of  remarkable  appear- 
ance— nearly  round,  and  almost  black  in  color.  It  is 
soft,  and  does  not  keep  its  shape  well  unless  thoroughly 
cured.  It  is  highly  prized  by  the  natives,  who  say 
that  before  it  is  fully  ripe  it  has  the  flavor  of  a  good 
baked  potato.  It  plays  an  important  part  in  the 
caravan  trade  of  the  Sahara,  where  it  is  cheap. 

Fruit  nearly  spherical,  one  to  one  and  one-half 
inch  in  greatest  diameter,  base  flattened  or  slightly 


290  DATE    GROWING 

depressed.  Color  very  dark  brown  or  purple,  almost 
black.  Skin  thin  and  tender,  adhering  closely  to 
flesh  but  wrinkled  indiscriminately;  when  long  dried 
the  fruit  often  shows  light-colored  scars,  short  and 
usually  longitudinal,  but  sometimes  making  almost  a 
net  work  over  limited  areas  of  the  surface.  Flesh  one- 
fourth  inch  thick,  golden  brown  in  color  with  a  lighter 
layer  toward  center;  soft  and  syrupy,  becoming 
granular  after  the  lapse  of  a  year.  Seed  five-eighths 
inch  long,  three-eighths  wide,  loose  in  cavity,  mummy 
brown  to  russet  in  color,  usually  smooth  but  some- 
times quite  rough,  ventral  channel  closed  except  for 
a  noticeable  opening  near  apex,  germ  pore  nearer 
base  than  apex.  Flavor  remarkably  sweet,  like 
molasses  in  a  well-cured  fruit;  sometimes  a  slight 
astringent  taste.  Ripens  midseason  but  irregularly 
on  bunch,  if  left  on  palm.  Arabs  usually  pick  an 
entire  cluster  when  the  dates  begin  to  soften,  and  hang 
it  indoors;  they  state  that  in  a  week  or  ten  days  the 
fruits  will  all  ripen  together. 

Thuri,  Thoory,  Tsuri,  The  Bull's  Date,  an 
Algerian  dry  date  which  has  proved  one  of  the  most 
satisfactory  in  California.  It  is  large,  not  hard,  and 
of  excellent  flavor;  the  palm  bears  heavily  and  the 
clusters  are  of  exceptional  size.  For  this  reason 
Arabs  usually  remove  three-fifths  of  all  the  spathes 
after  pollination.  Rather  late  in  ripening  (about 
November  1).  Hangs  on  the  clusters  well,  so  is 
often  sold  in  that  condition.  The  date  is  classed  by 
Arabs  as  "hot,"  and  not  suitable  for  a  prolonged  and 
exclusive  diet. 

The  fruit  is  one  and  three-quarters  inch  long, 
three-quarters  inch  wide,  broadest  in  middle  or 


DATE      VARIETIES  291 

slightly  nearer  base,  thence  tapering  slowly  to  rounded 
or  bluntly  pointed  apex  and  flattened  or  depressed 
base.  Color  when  fully  dried  is  Indian  chestnut 
red  overspread  by  a  thick  bluish  bloom,  but  skin  is 
much  raised  in  big  folds  and  blisters  which  give  a 
prevailingly  hazel  color  to  the  date.  Flesh  three- 
sixteenths  to  one-fourth  inch  thick,  deep  golden 
brown,  firm  and  nearly  dry  but  not  hard  or  brittle; 
white  with  some  soft  fibre  toward  center.  Seed 
one  inch  long,  three-eighths  inch  wide,  stout,  rounded 
at  base,  bluntly  pointed  at  apex,  cinnamon  to  ashy 
gray  in  color,  ventral  channel  deep  and  partly  closed, 
germ  pore  noticeably  nearer  base  than  apex;  loose 
in  cavity.  Flavor  sweet,  nutty  and  delicate,  no 
astringency;  does  not  deteriorate  even  if  kept  for  a 
year  or  more. 

Timjuhart,  Tinjuhart,  Timdjouert,  a  common 
variety  in  the  Mzab  of  Algeria,*  which  has  done 
well  in  the  United  States.  It  is  a  soft  date  of  average 
size  and  good  flavor,  which  packs  and  keeps  partic- 
ularly well.  When  fresh  it  is  bright  red  and  so  full  of 
syrup  that  it  drips.  The  cured  date  may  be  de- 
scribed as  follows: 

One  and  three-fourths  inch  long,  three-fourths 
inch  broad,  widest  at  middle  or  slightly  nearer  base, 
thence  tapering  slightlv  to  bluntly  pointed  apex  and 
flattened  base.  Dark  chestnut  to  purplish  maroon 
in  color.  Skin  thin  and  tender,  adhering  closely 
to  flesh,  sometimes  profusely  marked  with  short, 

*The  Mzab  or  Oued  Mzab  is  a  long  string  of  oases,  running 
north  and  south,  in  the  Sahara  of  Algeria;  it  contains  little  more  than 
200,000  palms,  but  has  an  unusually  large  proportion  of  good  varieties. 
Its  inhabitants,  the  Mzabites,  are  not  of  Arab  stock  or  language, 
but  are  a  Berber  or  proto-semitic  race,  akin  to  the  ancient  Egyptians. 


202  DATE    Gf  ROWING 

transverse  scars.  Flesh  three-sixteenths  inch  thick, 
dark  golden  brown  in  color,  firm  but  tender,  some- 
times granular.  Seed  hazel  in  color,  one  inch  long, 
five-sixteenths  inch  wide,  ventral  channel  shallow, 
sometimes  broadly  open  and  at  other  times  partly 
closed,  germ  pore  in  center.  Flavor  very  sweet 
but  not  cloying.  Season  from  September  15  to 
October  1. 

Turunja,  Tronja,  Troundja,  The  Citron  (Citrus 
medico),  a  name  probably  suggested  by  its  shape. 
A  large,  nearly  spherical,  soft  date  of  Tunisia  which 
has  produced  excellent  fruits  in  California.  It 
ripens  in  October.  If  allowed  to  remain  on  the  palm 
it  becomes  practically  a  dry  date.  The  variety  is 
not  common  in  its  native  home,  but  is  highly  esteemed 
by  the  natives;  Europeans  usually  find  it  too  sweet 
for  a  continued  diet. 

Kearney  describes  the  fruit  as  perfectly  round 
or  nearly  so,  one  and  one-half  to  two  inches  in  greatest 
diameter,  maroon  to  prune  purple  when  ripe,  dull 
orange  brown  before  maturity.  Skin,  where  loose, 
tawny.  Flesh  three-eighths  inch  thick,  firm  or 
even  tough,  sugary.  Seed  very  thick,  six-tenths  to 
seven-tenths  as  long  as  the  fruit,  three-fifths  as  long 
as  wide,  much  furrowed,  ventral  channel  closed,  germ 
pore  not  distinguishable.  Flavor  rich,  extremely 
sweet,  cloying. 

Usta'amran.  See  Sayir. 

Wahi,  The  Oasis  Date,  a  variety  grown  in 
several  of  the  western  oases  of  Egypt  and  also  in  the 
province  of  Gizeh.  Offshoots  imported  into  the 


FIFTY   POUND   BUNCH   OF   DEGLET   NURS 

From  imported  offshoot  planted  May  4,  1905,  by  Fred  N.  Johnson  of 
Indio,  California.  In  1910  it  bore  thirty  pounds,  in  1911  one  hundred  pounds, 
in  1912  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds,  1913  over  two  hundred  pounds,  and  has 
during  that  time  yielded  eight  offshoots. 


DATE      VARIETIES  293 

United  States  have  not  yet  fruited;  seedling  palms 
in  Arizona  have  proved  coarse  and  late,  but  this 
should  not  condemn  the  variety,  which  is  highly 
esteemed  in  Egypt.  This  date,  which  ripens  in 
August,  is  soft  but  keeps  well,  is  longer  and  considerably 
broader  than  Deglet  Nur,  slightly  translucent; 
flesh  yellowish,  granular  midway  between  skin  and 
seed.  Seed  blunt,  irregular  in  outline.  Flavor  pro- 
nounced, delicious. 

Yatimeh,  Iteema,  Itima,  Ytima,  The  Orphan, 
one  of  the  most  popular  North  African  varieties, 
considered  by  many  native  connoisseurs  the  equal 
of  Deglet  Nur;  and  one  which  has  given  particularly 
good  results  in  California.  It  ripens  toward  the  end 
of  September,  and  is  a  great  favorite  with  the  Arabs 
when  fresh,  but  also  keeps  well.  The  dates  hang 
persistently  to  the  clusters,  and  are  usually  sold 
in  the  market  in  this  condition,  but  the  Arab  gourmand 
considers  that  they  become  insipid  by  so  much 
exposure  to  the  air,  and  for  his  own  use  packs  each 
cluster  in  a  box,  surrounded  with  dry  dates;  they  will 
remain  in  perfect  condition  for  six  months  or  a  year. 

Offshoots  are  considered  rather  delicate.  The 
palm  demands  plenty  of  water  and  fertilizer  in 
order  to  produce  the  best  results.  The  yield  is 
heavy. 

Fruit  two  inches  long,  one-half  as  wide;  widest 
at  or  near  middle,  rounded  or  flattened  at  base, 
broadly  pointed  at  apex.  Chestnut  brown  in  color, 
with  slight  purplish  bloom,  the  thick  but  tender  and 
shiny  skin  raised  all  over  the  fruit,  when  it  is  cured, 
in  tawny  olive  or  ochraceous  blisters.  Flesh  one- 
fourth  inch  thick,  soft  and  syrupy  when  fresh,  after- 


294  DATE    GROWING 

ward  becoming  firm  but  tender  and  melting.  Seed 
one  inch  long,  three-sixteenths  wide,  rounded  at  base 
and  apex,  cinnamon  or  hazel  in  color,  ventral  channel 
nearly  closed,  germ  pore  in  center.  Flavor  sweet, 
pronounced. 

In  some  districts  of  Algeria  this  date  is  called 
Al  Qutar,  The  Dripper,  because  syrup  sometimes 
drips  from  it  on  the  tree;  the  name  might  be  freely 
translated  "Honey  Drips."  In  other  districts  Al 
Qutar  seems  to  have  been  established  as  almost  a 
distinct  variety,  distinguished  by  a  little  larger  size 
and  superior  quality,  It  is  almost  a  monopoly  of  the 
shaykhs  and  kaids,  who  preserve  it  in  jars  to  offer 
to  guests  as  a  particular  delicacy. 

Zaglul,  a  large,  soft,  Egyptian  date  which  has 
given  good  results  in  the  United  States,  and  is  par- 
ticularly valuable  because  of  its  early  maturity.  In 
Egypt  it  is  much  grown  on  sandy  soil  near  Rosetta, 
where  it  receives  no  surface  irrigation,  and  this 
probably  accounts  for  its  reputation  as  a  shy  bearer. 
Its  seed  is  conspicuously  small. 

Eisen  says  :  "This  variety  is  considered  in 
Cairo  as  the  best  date  that  comes  to  that  market, 
and  it  accordingly  brings  the  highest  price.  It  is 
sold  in  retail  at  eight  piasters  per  oke  (one  oke  is 
two  and  three-fourths  pounds)  or  about  fifteen  cents 
a  pound.  It  is  from  two  to  three  inches  long,  of 
brown  or  reddish  brown  color,  very  highly  flavored 
and  sufficiently  sweet  but  not  exceedingly  so.  It  is 
very  meaty  and  is  always  eaten  fresh.  There  are 
not  over  four  bunches  to  the  tree  and  the  crop  is  never 

*Eisen,  Dr.  Gustav.    Fruits  in  Egypt.     California  Cultivator, 
vol.  XL,  No.  4,  p.  100.    Los  Angeles,  Jan.  23,  1913. 


DATE      VARIETIES  295 

sufficiently  extensive  to  allow  any  of  it  to  be  dried. 
There  are  several  kinds  of  Zaglul,  slightly  differing  in 
size  and  quality.  The  very  best  kind  does  not  last 
more  than  a  month  or  even  less  than  a  month. " 

Zahidi,  Zehedi,  Zadie,  originally  Azadi  (Pers.),* 
Nobility,  a  remarkable  dry  date  which  is  the  principal 
commercial  variety  of  Baghdad.  To  the  planter  it 
is  valuable  for  its  vigor,  hardiness,  resistance 
to  drought  and  great  prolificness — a  yield  of  250 
pounds  being  common — while  it  is  also  one  of  the 
earliest  to  mature.  To  the  dealer  and  shipper  it 
commends  itself  because  it  can  be  sold  in  three 
forms,  soft,  dry,  or  half  way  between,  and  keeps 
well  in  any  form.  It  is  the  principal  food  of  most  of 
the  nomads  around  Baghdad,  and  is  shipped  to  most 
of  the  ports  of  the  Mediterranean;  it  will  usually  be 
found  on  sale  in  Marseille  at  a  good  price.  It  is  much 
used  in  the  manufacture  of  arrak,  a  distilled  liquor 
whose  production  is  an  important  industry  at  Baghdad ; 
the  date  qualifies  for  this  purpose  because  of  its  large 
sugar  content.  The  flavor  of  Zahidi  is  not  equal  to 
that  of  Asharasi,  but  it  is  superior  to  most  North 
African  dry  dates,  containing  very  little  tannin. 

The  palm  is  characterized  by  a  thick,  stout 
trunk,  swelling  at  the  base,  and  leaves  rather  erect, 
not  recurving  like  most  varieties.  Their  color  is  a 
healthy  glaucous  green;  the  spines  are  very  large  and 
stiff. 

In  its  soft  stage  this  date  is  picked  about  the 
middle  of  August  and  packed  in  boxes  or  more  fre- 
quently in  skins.  In  this  condition  it  keeps  for 

*For  the  peculiar  history  of  the  names  Zahidi  and  Khustawi, 
see  Pere  Anastase-Marie,  Loghat  el  Arab  No.  10,  p.  397.  Baghdad, 
April,  1912. 


296  DATE    (TROWING 

months  and  is  called  Zahidi  Kursi,  the  latter  word 
being  Sukkari  ("sugary")  with  the  letters  transposed. 
In  this  state  it  may  be  described  as  follows:  Form 
oblong-obovate,  broadest  point  about  two-thirds 
distant  from  base  to  apex,  after  which  it  narrows 
slightly  to  the  rounded  apex  and  to  the  rather  broad, 
flattened  base;  size  medium,  length  one  and  one- 
quarter  inch,  breadth  seven-eighths  inch.  Surface 
smooth,  glossy,  a  beautiful,  translucent,  golden  yellow 
in  color,  sometimes  light  golden  brown;  bloom 
unnoticeable.  Skin  rather  thick  and  not  easily 
broken,  rarely  wrinkled,  and  adhering  closely  to  the 
flesh,  which  is  translucent  golden  yellow  near  skin, 
becoming  whitish  toward  seed;  soft,  meaty  and  full 
of  syrup;  one-quarter  inch  thick.  Seed  oblong, 
smooth,  rounded  at  base,  slightly  tapering  at  apex, 
three-quarters  to  seven-eighths  inch  long,  five- 
sixteenths  inch  wide,  smooth,  russet  in  color,  ventral 
channel  open.  Flavor  sweet,  extremely  sugary  but 
not  at  all  cloying,  and  possessing  a  remarkably 
fresh  or  rutab  taste. 

If  the  dates  are  allowed  to  remain  on  the  palm 
a  week  or  two  longer,  the  whole  cluster  can  be  cut 
and  hung  up  in  a  shop,  the  dates  showing  no  tendency 
to  become  detached,  even  after  four  or  five  months. 
In  this  stage,  which  the  Baghdadis  call  Zahidi  Qass, 
(cut),  the  fruit  is  still  soft  and  tender,  but  not  sticky. 
The  flavor  is  perhaps  a  trifle  less  rich  than  when  the 
fruit  is  packed  in  skins,  but  it  still  has  a  unique 
freshness,  so  that  one  could  eat  such  dates  in  February 
or  March  and  almost  persuade  himself  that  they  are 
fresh  from  the  tree.  I  believe  this  date  offers  great 
commercial  possibilities  to  California  growers,  since 
entire  bunches  could  be  furnished  to  grocers,  who 


DATE      VARIETIES  297 

would  hang  them  up  in  the  window  just  as  they  do 
a  bunch  of  bananas. 

The  principal  export  of  the  date  from  Baghdad, 
however,  is  in  its  third  or  dry  state  ("Zahidi  Yabis"), 
when  it  may  be  described  as  follows:  Form  same  as 
given  above;  size  a  trifle  smaller.  Surface  hard  and 
dry,  slightly  rough,  deep  straw  color  with  sometimes 
a  translucent,  dark  amber  portion  near  apex.  Skin 
hard  and  dry,  tough  and  not  easily  broken;  smooth 
near  base  and  usually  somewhat  wrinkled  and  folded, 
and  separating  from  flesh  toward  apex.  Flesh  dry 
but  not  mealy,  three-sixteenths  inch  thick,  dull  white 
in  color  with  frequently  an  amber  portion  near  tip. 
Seed  as  described  above.  Flavor  very  sugary. 

The  variety  has  not  yet  fruited  in  California, 
but  should  be  very  successful.  In  the  unfavorable 
climatic  conditions  of  Tempe  the  only  drawback  to 
it  has  been  a  tendency,  shown  by  most  dates  there, 
to  ripen  unevenly. 

Zumreh  Mimun,  The  Offshoot  of  Mimun  (a 
personal  name*),  a  very  rare  variety  of  the  Ziban 
in  Algeria,  probably  a  derivative  of  Deglet  Nur,  as  it 
is  said  that  an  outsider  can  hardly  distinguish  the  two 
varieties  of  dates,  even  if  he  sees  them  side  by  side. 
The  date  is  described  as  of  the  same  size  and  color  as 
Deglet  Nur,  equally  translucent,  ripening  in  October, 
keeping  well.  The  palm  yields  heavily  only  if  it  is 
given  very  good  care.  This  variety  has  not  yet 
fruited  in  the  United  States. 

*It  is  the  name,  in  Arabic  orthography,  of  the  famous  Jewish 
scientist  of  the  twelfth  century  A.  D.,  Maimonides.  To  name  a 
choice  variety  of  date  after  him  is  certainly  heaping  coals  of  fire, 
for  he  denounced  dates  as  injurious,  and  advised  that  they  should  be 
eaten  rarely  and  then  only  before  meals.  Abu  Amran  Mouchi  b. 
Mimoun,  The  Principles  of  Physical  and  Moral  Health,  tr.  by  M. 
Carcousse,  Alger,  1887,  p.  23. 


APPENDIX 


5 

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0-g 


. 
31 


I 

QUARANTINE  REGULATIONS 

Anyone  wishing  to  import  date  palm  offshoots 
from  a  foreign  country  must  obtain  a  permit  from 
the  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  and  must  mark  each  box, 
case,  or  package  with  the  name  and  address  of  importer 
and  exporter,  general  nature  and  quantity  of  contents, 
district  or  locality  and  country  where  grown,  and 
number  of  permit.  Each  package  must  either  be 
accompanied  by  a  certificate  of  inspection  from  the 
foreign  country,  stating  that  the  plants  are  free  from 
disease  or  pests,  or  the  importer  must  file  a  bond  with 
the  collector  of  customs,  to  the  amount  of  double  the 
invoice  value  of  the  property,  to  insure  that  he  will 
properly  treat  it  to  free  it  from  scale  and  other  pests, 
within  forty  days  of  arrival,  under  instructions  from 
the  quarantine  officers;  and  the  plants  must  not  be 
removed  from  the  port  of  entry  until  written  notice 
is  given  by  the  agent  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
to  the  collector  of  customs  that  the  stock  has  been 
properly  treated. 

The  only  places  into  which  palms  can  be  shipped 
by  an  importer  are : 

In  California,  Riverside  County,  east  of  the  San 
Bernardino  meridian;  Imperial  County. 

In  Arizona,  Yuma  County,  Maricopa  County, 
Final  County. 

In  Texas,  Webb  County. 

After  being  properly  treated  in  a  cresol  dip  for  two 
periods  of  fifteen  minutes,  separated  by  twenty-four 


302  APPENDIX 

hours,  offshoots  may  be  moved  to  any  point  within 
the  region  above  mentioned,  but  must  be  rooted  in 
nursery  form,  and  so  kept  for  a  year,  when  they  will 
again  be  inspected,  and  if  found  free  from  scale  they 
may  be  shipped  to  any  point  in  the  United  States,  if 
accompanied  by  a  certificate  of  inspection  from  a 
duly  authorized  agent  of  theDepartment  of  Agriculture, 
showing  that  they  are  not  infested.  They  can  not  be 
shipped  outside  the  quarantine  area  unless  free  from 
scale;  but  inside  the  quarantine  area  they  may  be 
shipped  to  any  point.  In  California,  however,  they 
must  not  be  planted  within  500  feet  of  seedling  palms. 

In  regard  to  offshoots  of  local  origin,  either  from 
imported  palms  or  from  seedlings,  they  may  be 
shipped  anywhere  at  any  time  if  accompanied  by 
the  proper  certificate  showing  that  they  are  not 
infested.  If  they  are  infested,  they  can  only  be 
shipped  within  the  quarantine  area,  or  from  one 
quarantined  region  to  another. 

The  officers  in  charge  of  inspection  on  behalf  of 
the  Department  of  Agriculture  will  furnish  all  infor- 
mation desired.  No  fee  is  charged  for  inspection. 
The  officers  are: 

In  California:   Bruce  Drummond,  Indio. 
In  Arizona:  A.  W.  Morrill,  Phoenix. 
In  Texas:  J.  D.  Mitchell,  Victoria. 

Plant  quarantine  regulations  are  based  partly 
on  the  Plant  Quarantine  Act  passed  by  Congress  last 
year  and  approved  August  20,  1912,  and  partly  on 
state  regulations.  The  above  synopsis  represents 
the  essential  features  of  the  act  and  regulations  at 
the  date  of  writing,  September  1,  1913. 


II 

TO  GROW  BANANAS  FROM  DATE  SEEDS 

During  the  dark  ages  it  was  a  widespread  Arab 
superstition  that  bananas  could,  under  certain 
circumstances,  be  grown  from  date  seeds.  The  slight 
similarity  in  general  appearance  between  the  two 
plants  was  elevated  to  a  real  relationship,  particularly 
by  the  Baghdad  physician  'Abdu-1  Latif  (twelfth 
century),  in  his  Description  of  Egypt  (pub.  at  Paris 
by  Imperial  Press,  1810,  with  tr.  by  S.  de  Sacy).  The 
writer  declares  that  to  make  the  relationship  evident 
all  you  need  to  do  is  to  place  a  date  seed  in  a  fruit  of 
the  colocasia  and  bury  it;  the  result  will  be  a  banana 
plant. 

The  plant  which  the  Arabs  designate  as  colocasia 
(Arab.,  from  Pers.,  qulqas)  is  doubtless  not  Colocasia 
antiquorum,  but  the  sacred  water  lily  of  the  Egyptians, 
Nymphea  lotus  (Castalia  mystic  a).  The  way  in  which 
the  writers  speak  of  it  shows,  however,  that  they  had 
only  a  hazy  idea  in  mind,  and  probably  did  not 
really  know  what  plant  they  were  referring  to. 

Ibn  Awam,  the  Spanish  Moor  who  wrote  his 
treatise  on  agriculture  in  the  twelfth  century,  gives 
more  detailed  directions  for  performing  the  operation, 
in  his  chapter  entitled  "To  Make  a  Date  Seed  Grow 
in  a  Colocasia  Root,  to  Obtain  a  Banana  by  the 
Permission  of  God."  He  says: 

"The  manner  of  operating  is  to  plant  a  colocasia 
root  in  a  place  constantly  exposed  to  the  sun,  where 
one  can  water  it  abundantly  and  continuously  and 


304  APPENDIX 

protect  it  from  wind.  Water  it  carefully  until  the 
root  sprouts;  then  dig  away  the  earth,  split  the  root 
with  a  gold-bladed  knife,  and  in  that  cleft  introduce 
the  date  seed.  The  operation  must  be  concealed  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  colocasia  root  can  not  see  what 
is  being  done,  otherwise  the  operation  will  not  suc- 
ceed. The  seed  used  should  be  from  a  date  of  the 
variety  Kasbeh  or  any  other  delicate  variety.  Bind 
up  the  cut  with  reed  leaves  or  woolen  thread  and 
plaster  the  whole  thing  over  with  mud  mixed  with 
fine  hairs,  then  cover  it  four  fingers  deep  with  humus. 
Water  it  with  sweet  water  daily  or  every  other  day 
until  the  germination  is  apparent,  then  you  will  see 
the  banana  appear.  If  planted  in  January  or  February 
you  will  get  fruit  at  the  end  of  summer;  this  fact  is 
very  extraordinary.  Some  think  the  seed  should  be 
broken  before  it  is  put  in  the  cleft;  I  have  tried  it 
without  success. 

"A  witness  worthy  of  faith  tells  me  he  has  seen 
the  operation  performed  in  the  orient  in  this  manner: 
Take  a  seed  in  its  fruit,  using  pains  to  get  a  female 
seed — it  is  that  which  is  short  and  not  pointed  at  the 
end.  Introduce  the  seed  in  a  colocasia  root,  which 
resembles  a  turnip  or  artichoke  root;  cover  it  with  a 
little  humus,  water  it  continuously,  and  abundantly, 
and  there  will  appear  a  banana,  which  is  a  kind  of 
colocasia,  but  rare  in  Spain,  if  indeed  it  is  known  at 
all." 

Another  MS.  version,  more  probably  correct, 
makes  Ibn  A  warn  say  that  he  has  never  been  able  to 
try  the  operation,  because  he  could  not  secure  any 
colocasias. 


if 

A  -c 


o  « 

8i 

3  a 

Q  -C 

gf 


Ill 

"THE  SWEAT"  TALISMAN 

The  following  talisman  was  in  high  repute  among 
Arab  date  growers  of  the  dark  ages :  Ibn  A  warn  quotes 
the  formula  from  the  Book  of  Nabathean  Agriculture : 

"A  man  takes  a  sheet  of  copper  weighing  70  to 
140  mithqals  (267  to  534  gr.).  He  goes  to  the  middle 
of  the  field  where  he  wishes  to  plant  his  date  seeds; 
there  he  digs  a  hole  to  the  depth  of  seven  Nabathean 
feet  (2.53  m.);  then  he  takes  a  clay  jar,  very  deep  and 
rendered  very  hard  by  the  action  of  a  violent  fire; 
he  puts  the  copper  tablet  in  it,  after  having  rubbed  it 
with  olive  oil.  Plant  the  vase  in  the  hole,  and  the 
seeds  will  give  palms  of  excellent  varieties,  very  sweet 
and  handsome.  This  shall  be  done  when  the  horoscope 
is  in  the  two  houses  of  Jupiter.  If  it  is  in  Jupiter 
itself,  that  is  excellent.  The  moon  ought  to  be 
apparent  and  in  conjunction  with  the  sun,  or  else  with 
Jupiter.  If  the  moon  is  in  one  of  the  houses  of  this 
planet  and  the  horoscope  is  there,  it  is  very  good. 
Distrust  The  Tail  and  Mars,  for  if  one  of  them  or 
both  are  in  the  horoscope,  or  if  they  occupy  the  middle 
of  the  sky,  the  palms  produced  by  the  seeds  will  be 
shy  bearers.  Kimama  says:  'Draw  with  an  iron 
style  on  this  sheet  of  copper  the  figure  of  a  man  with 
one  hand  above  the  other.  Rub  honey  on  the  figure 
and  olive  oil  on  the  rest  of  the  plate;  shake  powdered 
sugar  on  the  honey.  Put  the  sheet  in  the  jar  and 
cover  it  with  a  layer  of  clay,  then  bury  it  among  the 
roots  of  a  palm  which  lets  its  fruit  drop  before  they 
are  ripe:  it  will  retain  them  and  its  product  will  be 
as  beautiful  as  possible'." 


INDEX 


Ajweh 24 

Alkali,  effect  on  palms 34,  35.  156 

Amari 211 

Amekentichi 264 

Amhat 211 

Amir  Hajj 212 

Amirf 214 

Ammaree. 211 

Ammary 211 

Amri 214 

Anjasf 214 

Ants  attacking  palm 156 

Aooshet 216 

Archeti 277 

Arechti 277 

Arishti 214 

Arizona,  adaptability  to  dates 28,  54 

Arrak 197 

Asab'i  al  Arus 214 

Ascherasi 215 

Asharasi 81,  120,  164,  215 

Ashar  Fahal 121 

'Ausheh 216 

'Awaydi 67,  216 

Azmashf 217 

Badinjani 218 

Badrahf 219 

Badraihl 219 

Badrashin 127,  220 

Badurahi 219 

Baghdad,  bearing  at 175 

climate  of 32 

irrigation  at 37,  91 

males  at 120 

season  at 127,  163 

Bajlanl 220 


308  INDEX 

Bananas  from  dates,  to  grow 303 

Barban 121,  221 

Barhf 221 

Bartamoda 222 

Bearing  of  palm  intermittently 94 

Bearing  of  palm,  quantity 174 

Bedraihe 219 

Beetle  in  dates 157 

Bent  Keballa 286 

Berban 221 

Berhi 221 

Berni 226 

Bertamoda 222 

Beverages  from  dates 195 

Bint  'Aisheh 223 

Bint  Qabaleh 286 

Birket  al  Hadji 223 

Birket  al  Haggi 223 

Birket  al  Hajji 68,  128,  223 

Bourlos 226 

Breeding  dates  from  seed 47,  50,  56 

Brem .224 

Brim 224 

Bu  Narinja 225 

Burlus 226 

Bumf 226 

Burshi 227 

Busreh,  cultivation  at 92 

irrigation  at 36 

season  at 127,  163 

soil  of 33,  167 

Carbon  dioxid  in  ripening  dates 138,  139,  208 

Carpophyllus  dimidiatus 157 

Casa  Grande  Valley  adapted  to  dates 28 

Chamerops  humilis 108 

Chemical  constituents  of  dates 204 

Climate  suited  to  dates 27,  30,  32 

Coachella  Valley  adapted  to  dates 27 

Colorado  River  Valley  as  date  country 27 

Consumption  of  dates  in  United  States 179 

Cooking  methods 179 


INDEX  309 

Crop,  enemies  of 128 

handling  of 130 

picking  of 129 

Cultivation  of  ground 39,  90 

Dakar  Majahel 121 

Dates  "hot"  and  "cold" 167 

Deboeni 231 

Deboweni 231 

Degal 55 

Deglet  Nur.. 27,  51,  80,  84,  91,  141,  161,  164,  165,  168,  174,  179,  228 

Dietetic  value  of  date 203 

Digestibility  of  date 205 

Drainage  of  soil 34 

Dry-farming  of  dates 37 

Dubaini 231 

Egypt,  bearing  in 174 

irrigation  in 36,  37 

large  offshoots  in 59 

pollination  in 102 

season  in 127 

El  Kseba 232 

Emkentishi 264 

Ephestia  cautella 156 

Expense  of  cultivation 178,  183 

Fahal  Aksba 121 

Falling  of  fruit .' 06 

Fard 232 

Fardh 81,  232 

Farisi 235 

Fertilizers 33,  83,  92 

Fig  moth  in  dates 156 

Flowering,  time  of 108,  113 

Flowers,  appearance  of  in  two  sexes 110 

as  food 193 

hermaphrodite 113 

Food  value  of  dates 203 

Frost  resistance  of  palms 31 

Frost  resistance,  effect  of  irrigation  on 90 

Fumigation  of  packing-house 157 

Fursi 235 

Ghanami .  .  120 


310  INDEX 

Ghars 129,  167,  169,  235 

Ghazi ; 237 

Gila  River  Valley  adapted  to  dates 28 

Gondela 238 

Gondila 238 

Gophers  attacking  palms 155 

Grafting  palms 123 

Graphiola  phoenicis 153 

Grasshoppers  attacking  palms 155 

Guern  el  Rhezal 274 

Gundila 238 

Halawi 238 

Malawi  Makkawi 239 

Halwa 241 

Hamraia 243 

Hamraya .  .  .  .- 243 

Harra 246 

Hasa,  dates  of 97,  162 

Hasan  Efendi 244 

Hasawi 245 

Hayani 245 

Hellali 245 

Heloua 241 

Herra 246 

Hilali 245 

Horra 246 

Hourra 246 

Hukri 120 

Hurra 246 

Huwayzi 246 

Hwezi 246 

Ibrahimi 247 

Ibrahimi 247 

Identification,  means  of 170 

Imperial  Valley  adapted  to  dates 27 

India,  dates  in 30,  45,  53,  55,  175 

Indian  meal  moth  in  dates 15  6 

Irrigation 36,  37,  89 

Iteema 29,8 

Itima 248 

Kanta 248 

Kasbeh . .  .  .  249 


INDEX  311 

Kenta 248 

Kenteeshy 264 

Kentichi 264 

Kesba 249 

Kessebi 249 

Khadhrawi 67,  121,  252 

Khadrawi 252 

Khalas 253 

Khalasa 253 

Khalaseh 39,  162,  253 

Khalasi 253 

Khanayzi 258 

Khanezi 258 

Khastawi 258 

Khudrawee 252 

Khustawi 258 

Kustawi 258 

Lagoo 259 

Lagou 259 

Laqmi,  palm  wine 196,  198 

Laqu 259 

Madina,  Arab  center  of  date  culture 23,  37,  102,  127,  164 

Majhul 81,  84,  260 

Makantishi 264 

Maktoom 265 

Maktum 265 

Maktum  Ahmar 268 

Males,  identification  of 122 

influence  on  seed 108 

nomenclature  of 124 

number  necessary 108 

percentage  of  in  seed 84 

selection  of 119 

shoot,  characteristics  of 123 

transformed  to  females 123 

value  of  seedling 119,  121 

varieties  of 120 

Manakhir 85,  169,  268 

Manure,  use  of 92 

Maridheh 270 

Marketing  dates 43 


312  INDEX 

Marketing  dates  in  bunches 132 

Marlatt  scale 151 

Masarraf 270 

Mashi  Degla 270 

Masqat,  dates  at 39 

Maturation  of  date 142 

Mecha  Degla 270 

Medicinal  uses  of  date 193 

Medjeheul 260 

Medjool 260 

Menakher 268 

Mexico,  dates  in 29,  44,  136 

Meznag 271 

Mirhage 271 

Mishi 270 

M'Kentichi 264 

Monakhir 268 

Moths  in  dates 156 

Muhammad,  connection  with  dates 

21,  22,  23,  102,  170,  188,  189,  195 

Muznaj 271 

Nagal 271 

Naghal 271 

Nagl  el  Basha 272 

Najl  al  Pasha 272 

Nakhleh  Zianeh 272 

Nakhlet  al  Pasha 272 

Nazi 272 

Oman,  climate  of 30 

cultivation  in 64,  92 

irrigation  in 36,  39 

season  in 127,  162 

Offshoots,  best  size  of 59 

detaching 61 

difference  of  season  in 122 

growth  of 67 

identification  of 71 

packing  and  shipping 63 

planting 64 

production  of 68 

production  of  dates  from 46 


INDEX  313 

Offshoots,  profit  from 177 

rooting  with  bottom  heat 69 

shape  of 59 

time  to  cut 60 

watering 66 

Packing  dates 130 

Palm,  in  antiquity 22 

monoecious 113 

traditions  concerning 21,  22,  23 

Palm  wine ' 196 

Parlatoria  scale 149 

Pasteurization 130,  157 

Phoenicococcus  scale 151 

Phoenix  canariensis 107 

Phoenix  sylvestris 53 

Plodia  interpunctella 156 

Pollen,  handling  of 107 

preservation  of 107 

Pollination,  antiquity  of 101 

failures  in 110 

in  nature 104,  105 

in  America 106,  114 

native  method  of 105 

Preserving  dates 191 

Qern  el  R'azal 274 

Qintar 273 

Quarantine 158,  301 

Qurn  al  Ghazal 274 

Qush  Batash 274 

Qush  Bu  Narinja 225 

Qush  Farf ara 275 

Qush  Hasas 276 

Qush  Shahm 276 

Qush  Sheham 276 

Qush  Zabad 276 

Rain,  effect  of  on  dates 96 

Rakab 163 

R'ars 235 

Rashidl 277 

Rats  attacking  dates 155 

R'azi..  ..237 


• 
314  INDEX 

Rhars 277 

Rhazi 237 

Rhyncophorus  borers 154 

Ripening,  artificial,  in  Orient 135 

artificial,  in  United  States 137 

chemical  process 206 

natural  and  artificial 206 

time  of,  in  Orient 127 

time  of,  in  United  States 127 

Rishti 277 

Ruhm  al  Ghazal 278 

"Rutab"  dates 166 

S'aidi 279 

Sacramento  Valley,  dates  in 28 

Salt,  use  of  on  palm 94 

Salton  Basin,  dates  in 32,  54 

Salt  River  Valleyfor  dates 28 

Samiani 279 

San  Joaquin  Valley,  dates  in 28 

Sarna 279 

Sarni 279 

Sayer 280 

Sayir 127,  280 

Sba  el  Aroosa 281 

Scale  insects  on  palms 149 

Scale  insects,  treatment  of 150,  152 

Seedling  dates 44,  46 

Arab  theories  on 77 

cultivation  of 83 

freedom  from  scale 158 

in  United  States 47 

transplanting 83 

variability  of 48,  85 

Seed,  Arab  uses  of 192 

planting 82 

selection  of 80 

sex  of 84 

Serving  dates,  ways  of 188  et  seq. 

Sex,  evidence  of  in  offshoots 122 

Shitwi 127 

Shukkar..  ..281 


INDEX  315 

Siwi 281 

Soil  adapted  to  dates 27,  33 

Spain,  dates  in 45,  136 

Sukkari 281 

Sukkar  Nabat 283 

Sukkuti 283 

Sultani 282 

Sultani 283 

Sumaysmi 120 

"Sweat"  Talisman,  The 305 

Tabirzal 283 

Tadala 284 

Tafazween 286 

Tafazwin 165,  286 

Tafilalet  dates .  .31,  45 

Talismans  and  charms 94,  96,  97,  305 

Tanasin 288 

Tanessin 288 

Tantaboosht 289 

Tantaboucht 289 

Tantabusht 289 

Tazizaoot 285 

Tazizaut 285 

Tedalla 284 

Temacin 288 

Tempe,  climate  at 139 

harvest  at 129 

irrigation  at ...    37 

Tenacine 288 

Tenaseen 288 

Texas,  dates  in 29 

Theory 290 

Tmiri 290 

Timdjouert 291 

Timjuhart 291 

Tinjuhart 291 

Trachycarpus  excelsus 108 

Transliteration  of  Arab  names xv 

Trimming  of  palms 97 

Tronja 292 

Troundja .  .  292 


316  INDEX 

Tsuri 290 

Turunja 292 

Usta'amran 292 

Varieties 211  et  seq. 

Wahi 292 

Ward* 120 

Washingtonia  filifera 108 

Water  for  irrigation,  amount  needed 38 

Water  for  irrigation,  temperature  of .— 39 

West  Indies,  dates  in 31 

Windbreaks  in  date  plantations 48,  84,  97 

Wind,  effect  of  on  palms 97 

Wolfskill  date 54 

Wormy  dates 158 

Yatf  meh 293 

Ytima 293 

Zadie 295 

Zaglul 294 

Zahidi 165,  197,  295 

Zanzibar,  dates  in 31 

Zehedi 295 

Zumreh  Mimun .  .  297 


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CQDL1M03S7 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


